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THE POSTAGE STAMPS 



OF THE 






united States 



BY 



JOHN N. LUFF 



New York.: 

THE SCOTT STAMP & COIN CO., Ltd. 

1902. 



4 



<c^ 



-V V 



\* v 



\* 



THf ' 'BRAKY or 

CONGRESS 
Tw»j Co*a Reocivej 

MAR. 14 1902 

CWT T IM H T ENTRY 

COPY A 



G^i. 



Copyright, 1897. 
By The Scott Stamp & Coin Co. 



Ltd. 



Contents. 



Page 
Introductory, ........ 3 

Historical Notes, ....... 5 

The Postmasters' Stamps, ... . . . 9 

Alexandria, Va., ..... 12 

Annapolis, Md,, . . . . 13 

Baltimore, Md., . . 15 

Boscawen, N. H., ...... 20 

Brattleboro, Vt., ... 21 

Lockport, N. Y., .26 

Millbury, Mass., . . ■ . 27 

New Haven, Conn., 29 

New York, N. Y., . . . 32 

Philadelphia, Pa., .38 

Pittsfield, Mass., ...... 39 

Providence, R. I., . . . . 40 

St. Louis, Mo., . . ... 45 

Washington, D. C, . . . . . 52 

Worcester, Mass., ... 54 

Madison, Fla., ....... 55 

Government Issues, .... . 57 

Issue of 1847, ....... 59 

Issue of 1851-55, . . .65 

Issue of 1857-60, ....... 75 

Issues of 1861-66, ... 81 

Issue of 186 r, . . 81 

" " 1863, ... 90 

" " 1866, . . -9i 

Issue of 1867, ....... 97 

Issue of 1869, ....... 108 

Issue of 1870, ... ... 119 

Issues of 1873-75, ....... 130 

Issue of 1879, . . .144 

Issues of 1881-88, ....... 147 

Issue of 1881-82, ...... 147 

" " April 10th, 1882, ..... 149 

" " October 1st, 1883, . . . . 151 

" " June 15th, 1887, 153 



CONTENTS. 

Page. 
Issues of 1887-88, .... . 155 

Issue of 1890, ... ... 160 

Issue of 1893, .... .170 

Issue of 1894-95, . . . . . . .179 

Issue of 1898 (Trans-Mississippi Series), . 191 

Issue of 1898, ... ... 196 

Issue of 190c (Pan-American Series), .... 200 

Carriers' Stamps, .... . 202 

The Baltimore Carriers' Stamps, . . . . 207 

The Boston Carriers' Stamps, . . . .211 

The Charleston Carriers' Stamps, . . . 215 

The Louisvile Carriers' Stamps, . . . . .222 

The New York Carriers' Stamps, .... 225 

The Philadelphia Carriers' Stamps, ..... 233 

Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Pony Express Stamps, . . 238 

The Franklin Carriers' Stamp, ..... 244 

The Eagle Carriers' Stamp, ..... 248 

Special Delivery Stamps, ...... 250 

Official Stamps (Issue of 1873), ..... 256 

Official Stamps (Issue of 1879), ..... 274 

Newspaper and Periodical Stamps (Issue of 1865), . 289 

" (Issue of 1875), . . .294 

" (Issue of 1879), . . 303 

" (Issue of 1894), . . .318 

" (Issue of 1895), . . 320 

Postage Due Stamps, ....... 329 

Issue of 1879, ...... 329 

Issues of 1894-95, ...... 336 

Provisional Issues, . . . . . 341 

Reprints, Re-Issues and Special Printings, .... 343 

Issue of 1847, ...... 346 

" " 1857 348 

" " 1861. ...... 349 

" " 1869, 350 

" " 1870, ...... 351 

" " '882, 354 

" " 1883, 354 

Carriers' Stamps, . . . . . -355 

Official Stamps, ...... 356 

Newspaper and Periodical Stamps, .... 359 

Postage Due Stamps, ... . 364 

Official Seals, ..... -365 

Appendix, ...... 375 

Addenda, . . . . . . .401 

Errata, ........ 403 

Index, ........ 405 



Introductory. 



The first of the scries of articles which constitute this work, and which 
it is now my pleasure to present in a more permanent form, appeared in the 
.-liner leu u Journal of Philately for June, 1897. 

Philatelists had, for some time, felt the need of a new history of the 
postage stamps of the United States, as the only work on this subject, which 
was then extant, had been written many years before and, in spite of its 
numerous excellent features, had become obsolete. The discoveries of 
recent years had increased the interest in the stamps of this country, enlarged 
the field of collecting and given us new literary material which it was desirable 
to gather into some permanent form. 

I had frequently been urged to undertake this task but had hesitated 
on account of its magnitude, fully realizing the amount of research and labor 
involved in properly placing such a work before the public. However, I, at 
last, decided to undertake the work and have carried it out to the best of my 
ability. 1 must leave it to my readers to decide what measure of success has 
attended my efforts. 

The difficulties attending the study of the stamps ol the United States 
are great, especially in the case of the early issues. Of the postmasters' and 
carriers' stamps there are pra< tically no records, either public or private. 
The men who issued or handled the stamps have most of them passed away. 
Those who remain can recall but little and human memory is proverbially 
fallible. To find the best and most reliable data we must turn to the earlier 
philatelic publications and from these sources I have drawn freely 

Even in the case of the government issues we can obtain but little 
information. Until 1894 the stamps were not printed by the government 
but by contractors. The official records seldom show more than the quantities 
of stamps received and distributed. Even these re( ords are usually inacces- 
sible, except in the shape of the annual reports of the Postmaster-General, 
which are, as a rule, merely perfunctory lists of the number of stamps of each 
value distributed in each year and supply very little that we wish to know 
of design paper, colors and the numerous details which are of interest to 
philatelists. 

In preparing this work I have spared neither time nor pains and, thanks 
to the liberality of my publishers, expenditure for material and investigation 
has not been stinted. The various chapters have now been carefully correi ted 



4 INTRODUCTORY. 

and amplified. I have tried to include every interesting detail and every 
item which might be of value. 1 fear 1 have sometimes given extracts and 
statistics that make dull reading, but it has seemed necessary to include them 
for the sake of completeness. 

Of regular issues by the government, the adhesive stamps only will be 
considered. The envelope stamps occupy a field by themselves and there are 
already extant several very complete and elaborate works devoted to them. 
But, among the provisional issues by postmasters and the carriers' stamps, 
envelopes will he described. They are few in number and their inclusion is 
desirable for the sake of historical completeness. 

It is fitting that I should express here my obligation to many others, 
both col!e< tors and dealers, for their valued assistance. They have placed at 
my disposal their collections and stocks and have aided me in other ways. 
It was originally my intention to make individual mention of those who 
assisted me 1 now find that I have a long list of such friends, yet 1 fear that 
1 may have failed to note some names Rather than risk a seeming, though 
unintentional negle:t, I deem it best to say that I am indebted to many of 
those best known in phi! itely in this country and in Europe, and to many 
others whose names are not so familiar but whose good will was the equal 
of any. To all J offer my sincere thanks. 



Historical Notes. 



The first efforts towards establishing a postal system in what is now the 
United States were made by the colonies of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania; 
by the former in 1676 and by the latter in 1683. The head offices were i.,, ir |, ,„„i a i 
located in lioston and Philadelphia. These systems were designed for the Arrangements. 
convenience of the colonies establishing them, rather than for the benefit of 
tlie North American colonies in general. 

The mother country seems to have given no favorable attention to the 
needs of the colonies in the duet lion oi postal communi< ation until 1692 and 
the project remained unfruitful for nearly twenty years after that date. In 
the annual report of the Postmaster General, dated November 29th, [851, 
we read : 

" As early .is 1077, upon (he petition of seveial merchants of Boston (Massachusetts), 
Mr. John Hayward, scrivener, was appointed hy the court, 'to take in and convey letters 
according to their direction.' 

This was probably the lust post office and mail service authorized in America. Local 
and imperfect arrangements lor the conveyance of mails were afterwards made, at different 
periods, in several ol the colonies, until 1710, when the British Parliament passed an act 
authorizing the British Postmaster-General 'to keep one chief letter office in New York, and 
other chief letter offices in each of her Majesty's provinces 01 colonies in America.' Deputy 
Postmasters-General for North America were subsequently and fro n time to time appointed 
by the I'ostmaster-General in England, and Doctor Benjamin Franklin was so appointed in 
1 7 S S- He was removed ill 1774. 

On the 20th of July, 177s, the Continent d Co igress determined ' tint a Postmaster- 
General be appointed for the United Colonies,' and to allow him ' a salary of one thousand 
dollars per annum for himself and three hundred and forty dollars per annum for a secretary 
and comptroller.' On proceeding to the election of Postmaster General, ' Benjamin Franklin, 
Fsq , was unanimously chosen.' 

The Articles of Confederation of ^Sgave to the United States in Congress assemble.) 
' the sole and exclusive right and power of establishing and regulating post offices, from one 
State to another throughout .ill the United States, and exacting such postage on the papers 
passing through the same as may be requisite lo defray the expenses of an ollice.' The little 
progress made during the period of the Confederation shows that this power was too limited 
to be useful, Mid when the increase ol the mail service before the adoption of the constitution 
ol the United States is compared with its subsequent extension one cannot fail to perceive 
that the prospei ity, efficiency, and value of this department are chiefly to be ascribed to the 
national government founded under the constitution of the Union. 

The first Congress assembled undei our present constitution passed ' An act for the 
temporary establishment of .1 post ollice ' approved September 22, 1789. This act directed 
the appoint 1 neii 1 of a Postmaster General, and was to continue in Ioil>: until the end of the 
next session ol Congress. Under this provision Samuel Osgood, of Massichussetts, was 
appointed by President Washington, Postmaster-General of the United St ites, and this was 
the first appointment to lh.it office. * * * 

The earliest reliable statistics of the General Post Ollice are those for the year I 700, 
when the number ol post offices was seventy-live ; the extent ol the post routes 1,875 miles; 
and the revenues of the department $37.93?-" 



6 HISTORICAL NOTES. 

To those who are interested in the early history ;ind gradual develope- 
ment of our postal system, I recommend the perusal of an article l>y Mr. 
lames Recs in the American Journal oj Philately for April, 1876. 

The rates of postage were at first excessively high. In 1S16 they were 
considerably reduced. From that date until the Act of March 3rd, 1845, 
Kates or Postage which established uniform postage throughout the United States, the rate for 
a single letter varied from 6 cents to 25 cents, according to distance, the latter 
sum carrying a letter only 400 miles. Double and triple letters were charged 
111 proportion A single leltir was not one of a certain weight, but a single 
sheet of paper, folded and addressed on the back. Two sheets of paper or a 
sheet and a cover . onstituted a double letter. 

The Act of March 3rd, 1 S45 , established rates of postage as follows: 

" For every single letter in manuscript or paper of any kind by or upon which infor- 
mation shall be asked for or communicated in writing or by marks 01 signs, conveyed in the 
mail, for any distance under three hundred miles, live cents ; and for anv distance over three 
hundred miles, ten cents ; and for a double letter there shall be charged double these rates ; 
and for a treble letter, treble these rates ; and for a quadruple letter, quadruple these rates ; 
and every letter or parcel not exceeding half an ounce in weight shall be deemed a single 
letter, and every additional weight of hall an ounce, or additional weight of less than half 
an ounce, shall be charged with an additional single postage And all drop letters or letters 
placed in any post-oflice, not lor transmission through the mad, but lor delivery only, shall 
be charged with postage at the rate of two cents each." 

Circulars were charged two cents each. Newspapers were charged 
according to size. A sheet under certain dimensions was charged one cent 
for a distance less than one hundred miles and one and one half cents for a 
greater distance. For a sheet larger than the regulation size the rate was 
two cents. Pamphlets and magazines were charged two and one half cents 
each. 

Any one who studies the early issues of this country, the issues of post- 
masters, carriers and the local posts, or any uf the records of the time, soon 
notices that in its early days the post office department was never a leader 
oiiire not » uut always a follower. It allowed others to make all experiments, reforms 
Leader. and improvements, and then copied or took up their work. It was only when 

local posts had demonstrated that lower rates were profitable or had drawn 
to themselves the patronage of the publii , through rapid or more frequent 
service, that the government granted similar improvements. 

A very interesting account of the early postal laws and of the private 
posts is given by Mr. James Leslie, I '. S. Consul at Nice, in the Stamp 
Collectors Magazine, for Nov. 1, 1863. In view of the fact that Mr Leslie 
Karl) Postal l.:i"s was evidently thoroughly conversant with his subject and that he wrote at 
and Private Posts. lne lmi(J t ] iat t } ie various chang s in the postal laws had finally brought the 
government service into effective working form and enabled it to supersede 
the private posts, I think a liberal quotation from his article may be of 
interest : 

"The propei explanation of the many local postage stamps issued in the United States 
is only to be found in a thorough review of the postal laws passed by the United States' 
Congress and in a careful sludy of the various changes wrought by these successive legisla- 
tive acts in the mode of distribution ol letters and in the rates of postage. * * * 

The agitation in fa«or of and final adoption in England of the penny-postage system, 
excited a coirespo-iding interest and movement in the United States in favor of a reduction 
of what weie felt to be, in comparison with Biitish rates, extortionate postal charges. As 
happens with all political reforms, it took lime to develope public sentiment and to draw the 



HISTORICAL NOTES. 7 

attention ol Congress to this important subject. The government rates lor carrying letters 
were deemed so onerous that, in the fall of 1844,* private parties undertook to transport 
letters on their own account between points where they felt sure that money could be earned 
at lower rates. And, although such attemps to defraud the post-office revenues were in 
direct contravention of existing laws, popular sentiment, impressed with the idea of getting a 
better service at a lower price, winked at the law's infractions ; and, although the violations 
of the law were carried on with comparatively little secrecy, the perpetrators were never 
reached or, at any rate, were never punished. * * * 

The successful efforts of these private carriers soon commenced to tell upon the postal 
revenues, and, as the natural consequence, the post-office department was compelled to 
propose the remedy so clamorously called for by public opinion. By the Act' of March 3, 
184s, Congress at one sweep abolished the previous dear rales, as well as the annoying scale 
of varying distances ; and, whilst substituting the weight-standard, reduced at the same time 
the rate for a single letter to 5 cents for any distance under three thousand miles, and 10 
cents for all distances over three thousand miles. By the provisions of the same act, drop- 
letters (by which was meant letters for delivery in the same town where posted, as distinguished 
from letters intended for transportation to other towns) were made chargeable with a tax of 
2 cents, prepayment being optional. 

It must be borne in mind that, in addition to all the rates just mentioned, the post- 
office carriers were entitled to charge upon all letters, without exception, delivered at one's 
residence, a fee of 2 cents for delivery. This last item of revenue formed the entire com- 
pensation of the earners, who, deeming themselves underpaid, were unwilling to make moie 
than two deliveries a day -one in the morning, and another in the afternoon. Il will be 
seen that, under this arrangement, the entire tax levied upon a drop-letter, carried a lew 
squares' distance, and delivered at one's residence, was 4 cents, or only 1 cent less than the 
sum charged for transporting a similar letter nearly three thousand miles ! 

It is to this important fact, and to the want of frequent deliveries in large cities anil 
towns, that we may legitimately trace the creation of the numerous private post companies. 
In all the chief towns, these companies established a system of letter-boxes, from which 
letters were collected and delivered five or six times a day, and at one-half or even one- 
fourth the rates charged by the Government. The usual price was 1 cent or 2 cents. At 
fust in the principal cities, when there was no competition, the price was two cents. Later, 
as rivalry started up in the private postal service, some of the companies lowered the price 
to one cent. In some of the smaller cities, where the distances travelled over by the carriers 
were comparatively short, the price was never higher than one cent. Hence almost every 
city had its one, or, as in Philadelphia or New York, its half-dozen local posts; and hence 
why, upon the stamps employed by these companies, the usual designations of value will be 
found to be one and two cents. * * * 

It was not in fact, till 1847, that the American Congress decided upon the introduc- 
tion of postage stamps. The eleventh section of the Act of March 3, 1847, provides as 
follows : 

'Section XI. That to facilitate the transportation of letters in the mail the Post- 
master General be authorized to prepaie postage stamps which, when attached to any letter 
or packet, shall be evidence of the payment of the postage chargeable on such letter.' 

An important innovation upon the system of postal regulations was introduced into 
the Act, passed March 3, 1851. Whilst still leaving the prepayment of letters optional, this 
new law reduced the rate for letters under three thousand miles to 3 cents, if prepaid; whilst, 
if not prepaid, the old rate of s cents was collected. * * * 

The continued success of the private posts at this period caused the insertion of a 
provision in this same Act of 1851, authorizing the Postmaster-General to establish 'post 
routes within the cities or towns'; to leduce the total charge, inclusive of delivery-fee, upon 
drop-letters to two cents ; and to provide for collecting and conveying to the chief office of 
the general post letters intended for transportation to other cities, —the latter duty having 
been previously monopolized by the private carriers. This explains a great many of the 
local stamps bearing such inscriptions as the following: 'To the Mail, one cent'; /'<)>./- 
OJjfiee Despatch'; Government City Despatch'; and also, the one issued by the Post-office 
Department, viz , the blue oval stamp, with vignette of an eagle rising, and the inscription, 
' U. S. P. O. Despatch, prepaid one cent ' 

But, notwithstanding the provisions of the Act of 1851 referred to, the post office 
officials were slow to exercise the authority granted. Though the price on drop-letters was 
reduced to only 2 cents, still the rapid and frequent deliveries, which the public had become 
accustomed to from the private companies, were not yet supplied by the Post-office Depart- 
ment ; the government post olfice carriers refusing to make more than the traditional two 
daily deliveries, unless they were assured a remunerative salary, which should not be depen- 
dent upon the number of letters, more or less, which they delivered. * * * 

By the Act of June 15, 1860, a still further reduction was made in the fee for the 



*N(iTK. — Mr. Leslie's ilatc may lie set Lack nearly thrc 
Despatch Post was established in the city of New Vork on 
was in operation at a still earlier date, but did not use stamp 



2 years, since 


we- 


now know tli 


at C.reig's City 


Jan. 1st, 18 li. 


ll 


is claimed t 


hat Hale's pust 



b HISTORICAL NOTES. 

delivery of letters ; the rate collected by the carriers on all letters, whether received from 
abroad or mailed id the cily itself, being one cent. A specid appropriation of money was 
also made, to make up the loss to the carriers consequent upon this reduction, by substituting 
a fixed salary for these officials. And yet nothing was said in the Act as to the compulsory 
prepayment of this delivery-fee of i cent. In reality that question remained an open one 
until the present year. Hy the Act of March }, 1803, the question was definitely settled. It 
provides for frequent deliveries (which can now be easily carried out, since the carriers have 
regular fixed salaries); it compels prepayment on all drop-letters, upon winch the rate is 
made two cents (a step backwards, it may be remarked, cu passant)',- and abolishes all 
delivery tax upon letters coming from other towns The law took effect on the 1st of July, 
and this accounts for the introduction of the new 1 cents adhesive label, and the 2 cents 
envelope, both with the effigy u( President Jackson. 

The question of the right of private carriers to transport letters within the municipal 
limits of the cities was settled authoritatively in 1861, by the United States Court for the 
Eastern District of Pennsylvania, in a suit brought by the government against Messrs. 
Kochersperger & Co., successors to D. O. Blood & Co., of Philadelphia. The Court decided 
that, by the language of the Post-Office Act of March •}, 1S51 (already previously quoted), 
the 'streets' ol cities and towns were made 'post-routes', and that the Government alone 
had power to transport letters over them. This decision, happily commended to popular 
approval by the tardy awakening of the post-office officials to increased energy and enter- 
prise, was the death blow to the local companies Though the Government did not com- 
mence suit against all the parties, the decision in the one case had served as a sufficient 
warning ; and, at the present time, private-posts and local si mips in the United States may 
be considered amongst the things ol the past." 



The Postmasters' Stamps. 



This most interesting group of stamps, representing the earliest official 
attempts to meet the requirements of the public and lead the way for proper 
governmental supply and control of postage stamps, presents many difficulties 
to the philatelic student and writer. 

Previous to the introduction of adhesive stamps, letters were marked 
" paid " or " DUE," either with pen and ink or hand stamps of various designs. 
Sometin.es the words sufficed but usually the amount of the postage and the Use of Minks, 
date were added. The three may be found separately applied and also com- 
bined in one hand-stamp. The varieties of type are numerous. 

As has been previously remarked, the introduction of adhesive postage 
stamps in Europe was followed by a demand for similar conveniences in this 
country, but the Government was slow to accede to popular wishes and did 
nut yield until the example had been set by the local posts and by issues of 
a semi-private nature on the part of certain postmasters. 

The first adhesive stamp used in this country was issued by the City 
Despatch Post, otherwise known as Greig's Post, established in NewYork City, 
January ist, 1842. This proved sin h an annuyam e to the Government that l-'ir.si Loral stamp. 
it was suppressed and in its place the United States City Despatch Post was Kirsi fiimr-iV 
established. Perhaps it would be more correct to say that this post was .lump, 

bought out, since its proprietor, Alex, M. Greig, was given the position of 
letter carrier. 

It is said that the Act of March 3rd, 1845, as originally prepared, con- 
tained provisions for the prepayment of postage and the use of adhesive 
stamps on letters to foreign < ountries. But neither provision was contained 
in the Act, as passed. 

between the passage of the Act of March 3d, 1845, establishing the 
uniform rates of 5 and 10 < ents, and that of the Act of March 3rd, 1847, by 
whi< h the Postmaster General was at last authorized to issue postage stamps, 
the postmasters in several cities had postage stamps prepared and sold them 
to the public . It is probable that this action was prompted by a desire to ac- 
commodate their ( ustomers and to increase the receipts of their offices, by 
offering facilities in 1 ompetilion with those of the private posts. They usually 
sold their stamps at a slight advance over the lac e value, in order to re-imburse 
themselves for the expense of manufacture. It is possible that the limited 
use of several of these stamps may be, to some extent, due to this premium. 



IO THE POSTMASTERS' STAMPS. 

With one exception— that of a few of the stamps of the New York 

Postmaster, which were sent experimentally to other cities — these stamps had 

no currency outside of the city in which they were issued. They were 

recognized by the postmaster who issued them, as marks of postage prepaid, 

when placed on letters mailed at his office; but no other postmaster would 

Stamps avaiiai.u. acce pt them as such, if placed on letters deposited in his office. The stamps, 
onli al issuing 

office. to another office than that of issue, merely took the place of the word paid," 

in fact that word was usually impressed on the letters or used as a cancella- 
tion for the adhesive stamps. The stamps would carry letters from the office 
of issue to any other office but they would not carry a reply, since each post- 
master would only recognize the label or mark for which postage had been 
paid to him. 

It is interesting to note, on many of the postmaster's stamps, a 
survival of the early custom of vouching for the prepayment of postage by 
me.-ns of the postmaster's signature. The New York Postmaster or his 
Signatures on deputies placed their initials on the stamps of that city. Mr. Mitchell of 
stamps. New Haven wrote his name on each stamp. The Postmaster of Alexandria 

numbered his stamps. The stamps of Rrattleboro bear a facsimile of the Post- 
master's initials, and on those from Baltimore the signature is reproduced in full. 
WJiile, previous to March, 1847, there was no law authorizing the Post- 
master General to issue stamps or to sanction their issue by others, there 
does not seem to have been any law forbidding such issue. If the stamps of 
the various postmasters were brought to the attention of the Postmaster 
General he appears to have paid no heed to them, probably regarding them as 
private contracts between the postmasters and their customers and in no way 
detrimental to the interest of the Government, since the accounts were made 
up from the letters handled and the postage paid on them and not from the 
sales of the stamps. 

It is noteworthy that these stamps usually bear the words " Post 
Office " and the name of the city in which they were issued. Only those in 
authority would have dared to place these words upon the stamps. Their 
face values, five and ten cents, were the established government rates for 
service under and over 3,000 miles and were too high for local letters. They 
were clearly intended for more extended use than the local service of the 
cities in which they were issued The workmanship of many of them is 
superior to that of the stamps of the local posts, indicating that their pro- 
jectors felt warranted in in< uning considerable expense in their production. 
These unofficial issues have at least the implied sanction of the 
authorities, since nothing was done, before March, 1K47, to stop their use. 
Not only was their passage through the mails observed and allowed but wide 
publicity was given to them through the press. This unspoken consent, 
added to" the fact that they were issued by those holding authority from the 
Govenment, gives them a semi-official character. Their position in philately- 
is extremely interesting if not unique. 

, , In one instance the stamps of a postmaster received official recognition. 

A Postmaster s L ' 

stamp officiaiij [n the Metropolitan Philatelist for March, 1X94, Mr. F. W. Hunter says of 

recognized. the stamps issued by Robert H. Morris, the Postmaster of New York : 



THE POSTMASTERS STAMPS. II 

" During the year 1846, Mr. Morris sold the sc black New York to the postmasters of 
Boston, Washington, Albany and Philadelphia. My informant is not positive of the stamps 
being used in Philadelphia, but at all events the stamps were sold to the postmaster for use 
in that city. Cave Johnson, the Postmaster-General of the United States under President 
James K. Polk, authorized and directed the sale of the stamps to the Postmasters of the above 
mentioned cities. The stamps were only to be sold for letters directed to New York City. 
When affixed to letters they were to be treated as unpaid by their respective postmasters and 
forwarded to New York and when there the letters were considered as " Paid " by the 
postal authorities in that city. This was done for a short time, solely as an experiment to 
test the practicability of use of postage stamps throughout the United States." 

The first of the postmasters to issue stamps was Robert H. Morris, 
Postmaster of New York. A number of other offices quickly followed his 
example. It seems best to consider these stamps in the alphabetical order 
of the offices issuing them. 



Alexandria, Va, 



hull" Of Issue. 



g$ PAID %% 



This .stamp was issued about 1846, the earliest known cancellation be- 
ing Sept. 9th, 1846. " 

Daniel Bryan was Postmaster at Alexandria from 1845 to l %4l- 
Tiffany's History of the Postage Stamps of the United States gives the name 
" Brien " but I am informed by Mr. W. F. Lambert, of Alexandria, that the 
correct spelling is " Bryan." 

The first known copy of this stamp was found by the late John K. 

Tiffany in his family correspondence. It was described in Le Timbre Poste 

Historical. for March, 1873. The stamp is on the original cover, to which it is attached 

by a wafer. The letter is dated July 10th, 1847. This stamp still remains 

in Mr. Tiffany's collection. 

A second copy is described in the Philatelic Monthly for August, 1879 
The description agrees with that of the copy previously known. The letter 
bears the date of Sept. 9th, 1846. This specimen is now the property of a 
Philadelphia collector. 

Within a few years a third copy has been found and has passed into 
the collection of Mr. Thos. J. Shryock. 

These three are all that are known up to this date. The first and 
third are cut round. I have been unable to learn what is the shape of the 
second one. 

The first two copies bear the regular dated cancellation of Alexandria, 
the word " Paid" and a large figure "5 " in a rectangle, all hand-stamped in 
red. The third copy is not on the cover. 

The stamps are type-set and are impressed by hand on thin, colored, 
Design and Paper, wove paper. In addition Mr. Shryock's copy bears "No. 45" written in 
black ink in the space between "5" and "post OFFICE." Probably each 
copy was similarly numbered. Diameter, 27mm. 

ADHESIVE STAMP. 

Huff Wove Paper. 
Imperforate. 
1846. 5 cents black 



Annapolis, Md. 




PAID 



This envelope was issued by Martin F. Revell, Postmaster at An- 
napolis from 1844 to 1849. The exact date of issue is not known but it is 
probably 1846. 

The device is suggestive of a seal and is 18^111111, in diameter. The 
"5 " and " paid" apparently constitute part of the stamp. It is printed in 
dull carmine-red in the upper right corner of a white envelope which measures 
1 20x71mm. 

The design is very deeply impressed, so much so that portions of it 
show distinctly on the back flaps This would probably not have been the 
case had the envelope contained a letter and been hand-stamped after being 
deposited in the post office. The cancellation mark, on the contrary, does 
not show on the back. These points are of some value, as tending to con- 
firm the genuine provisional nature of the envelope. From the character of 
the work and the deep impression I believe the device and "5 " "paid" to 
have been printed on a press, rather than hand -stamped, and all at one im- 
pression 

The only known copy of the Annapolis envelope is in the collection of 
Mr. W. A. Castle, to whose courtesy I owe the privilege of first describing it. 

The following documents supply the history of the stamp, so far as it 

is now known : 

New York, Sept 3, 1895. 

To WHOM IT MAY CONCERN : 

Sometime in January, 180s, during our Mr. G. A. Burger's stay in the 
city of Philadelphia, he received permission to look through the old correspon- 
dence of the firm of Carstairs. 

Among other rare envelopes and stamps he found a small white envelope 
stamped " Post-Oflice, Annapolis, Md." with Eagle in center and " 5 " " Paid,*' 
on the upper right hand of the envelope in red, and the regular Annapolis post 
mark on the left side of the envelope in blue. 

From information which we received in Annapolis from Jas. Revell. son 
of the Postmaster there from 1844-40, we are convinced that this is a post- 
master's provisional stamped envelope, like the New Haven. 

We guarantee it to be a genuine original stamped envelope. 

Burger & Co. 



Date of Issue. 



I»cnllfli. 



Documents. 



14 ANNAPOLIS, MP. 

Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, 

Annapolis, Md., April 25. 1895. 



A pen and ink sketch 

of the 

Annapolis envelope 



An envelope with the above address and stamp has been presented to me 
for identification. I have quite a distinct recollection of the stamp " Annapolis, 
Md , 20 Mar." as having been used by my father (now dec'd) in the Annapolis 
P. O., of which lie was Postmaster some time prior to 1849. The stamp with 
eagle center has also a very familiar appearance and carries me back many 
years, when 1 was quite a lad, going to college (St. John's, Annapolis), often 
assisting my father, Martin F. Revell, in the office. I am decidedly of the 
opinion and such is my strong impression that these stamped envelopes, with 
eagle center in stamp and marked " paid", were sold by my father for the con- 
venience of the public. 

Jas. Revell, 
Associate Judge of 5th Judicial Court of Maryland. 

Reference List. ENVELOPE. 

White Wove Paper. 

Size: i2fX7imm. 

1846? 5 cents carmine-red 

Since the foregoing was written, in June, 1897, I have not been able 
to obtain any further information about this envelope or confirmation of the 
claim that it is a postmaster's provisional. Collectors, as a whole, appear to 
be skeptical and unwilling to accept it. 

Mr. B. V. Jenkins has shown me a folded letter-sheet (not an envelope) 
which has this seal stamped, in dark blue ink, in the upper left corner of the 

Hand-stamps. address side. In the upper right corner is stamped a figure " 2 ", in the same 
ink. There is no cancellation mark or date of use. The paper is a pale 
gray-blue. Mr. Crawford Capen has shown me a similar letter sheet which 
is dated March 24th, 1848. I am told that there are others in existence and 
that all bear evidence that the seal was applied after mailing, thus making it 
merely a postmark. 

I have also been shown what pretends to be an Annapolis adhesive 
stamp. This is stamped in dark blue on bluish paper, exactly like the letter 

a (juestiuuaiiie sheet just described. It is affixed to a cover which bears the word " paid " 
and a postmark dated "May 21 ", but neither touches the would-be stamp. 
There is nothing to prove that this bit of paper was used as a stamp, nor, on 
the other hand, is there any positive evidence to the contrary. Yet I cannot 
overcome the conviction that it is a fraud, and I must confess that, at this 
writing, I look with great doubt upon all the so-called Annapolis provisionals. 



Adhesive. 



Baltimore, Md. 




These stamps were issued by James Madison Buchanan, who was post- 
master at Baltimore from 1845 to 1849. The earliest cancellation which I 
have seen is March 18th, 1846 and the latest March 27th, 1847, but I am told 
the stamps were in use as late as 1849. It is said that there is a record in the 
Baltimore post office which describes these stamps and states that they were 
on bluish paper, and were first used early in 1846. This might be thought to 
indicate the priority of issue of the stamps on bluish paper, but the dates of 
letters bearing the stamps show that both colors of paper were in use con- 
currently. 

The attention of collectors was first called to the Baltimore stamps by 
the following communication, published in The Philatelist for February, 1875: 

" To the Editor of The Philatelist, 

Dear Sir : — I have the honor to give you the following description of a stamp recently 
discovered in this city, among the old papers in a vault of one of the oldest banking houses 
in the city. It was on a letter from New Orleans in 1845 or 1840. The envelope was un- 
fortunately destroyed. The stamp is narrow oblong ; inscribed James M. Buchanan above; 
5 cents, below. A penstroke is drawn through the name. It is impressed on thin laid white 
paper, and attached to the envelope by two wafers. The cancellation is blue. 

At the same time and place were found six St. Louis, four of the 5c and two of the 
10c. Also sixty ' New York Post Office,' and about a hundred 5 and 10c United States 1847. 

Yours respectfully, 
Washington, U. S. A." T. C. Bourne. 

Two things attract our attention in this letter; first, the writer's mis- 
take in attributing the stamp to New Orleans; and second, the statement that 
it was on white laid paper. We do not know, to day, any copy of this stamp 
on laid paper. 

The stamps were printed from an engraved plate, probably of copper. 
The surface of the plate was divided by thin vertical and horizontal lines into 
rectangles, about 53 to 54mm. long by 16 to 17mm. high. The design is very 
simple, being merely a fac simile of the postmaster's signature, with the value 
below it. The signature is from 47 to 5o^mm. in length, the "5 Cents" 
from 20 to 22^mm. and the " 10 Cents " from 24 to 25mm. 

It has been surmised that both values were engraved on one plate but 
this appears scarcely probable. The number of stamps on the plate or plates 



Date of Issue. 



Historical. 



Design. 



i6 



BALTIMORE, MD. 



Varieties and 
Arrangement. 



Itefererence List. 



Cancellations. 



Connterfeit. 



is not known. As in the case of all hand-engraved plates, each stamp differs 
from the others. I have found eleven varieties of the 5 cents and three of the 
10 cents. These are shown in the accompanying photogravure (Plate A). 
The differences consist in the lengths of the signature and value, their relative 
positions, and the shape and shading of the numerals and periods. On 
referring to the photogravure it will be seen that the first stamp in the left 
hand vertical row is undoubtedly from the upper left corner of the sheet. 
The margin of the second stamp in that row shows it to belong on that side 
of the sheet. For the same reason it is evident that the first and second 
stamps in the right hand vertical row came from that side of the sheet, while 
the margins of the third stamp locate it in the lower right corner. Since this 
illustration was made I have seen a copy of the third stamp in the first row 
which has a broad margin at the right. In the middle row the two stamps 
cancelled by crossed diagonal- lines form an unsevered pair. It will also be 
observed that the first of the ten cent stamps has a margin at the left. This 
is as far as I have been able to attain toward the restoration of the arrange- 
ment of the stamps on the plates. 

It is reasonable to assume that plates like these, on which each stamp 
was separately engraved, would be of limited size. The relatively large 
number of copies with margins confirms this theory. I anticipate that the 
plate of the five cents contained about fifteen to twenty-five stamps, and that 
of the ten cents a still smaller number. 

I have recently been told that an old gentleman, living in Baltimore, 
has a photograph of an original sheet of the Buchanan stamps. Others say 
it is a photograph of a sketch or tracing of such a sheet. My efforts to 
obtain more definite information about this have, so far, proved unfruitful. 

ADHESIVE STAMPS. 

Wove Paper. 

Imperforate. 

1846. 5 cents black on white, n varieties 

5 cents black on bluish, 1 1 varieties 
10 cents black on white, 3 varieties 
10 cents black on bluish, 3 varieties 

The covers bearing the Baltimore stamps have usually the regular 
dated cancellation mark of the city, the word "paid" and a large figure "5 
or " 10" in an oval. An illustration of the latter marks will be found at the 
head of the paragraphs describing the envelopes. They are usually hand- 
stamped in blue and frequently one or more of them touches the stamp. The 
stamps have often an additional cancellation of pen strokes. 

A year or two ago several of the philatelic papers announced the 
discovery of a 5 cent Baltimore stamp on violet paper. Examination showed 
this to be merely a poor imitation, copied from an illustration in a stamp 
catalogue, and only about one half the size of the genuine stamp. It ought 
not to have deceived the most casual observer and is only mentioned here 
because of the somewhat extended notice given to it by the philatelic press. 



BALTIMORE, MD. 



17 



J^/^u, & /?//*#< 



This illustration represents an adhesive frank which Postmaster Bu- 
chanan is said to have sold at five cents each and recognized, when affixed 
to letters, as indicating postage prepaid. The frank consists of his autograph, 
written in black ink, on a small rectangle of white paper. The signature is 
114mm. long and the paper measures 125x26mm. 

I have seen only one copy. It was affixed to a letter sheet (apparently 
before the sheet was folded), so that it passed diagonally across the lower left 
corner of the address side and folded over upon the back flaps. The cover 
was cancelled "Baltimore, May 17," and had the " paid " and "5" in an 
oval which were in regular use at that office. All these marks were in blue. 
The cover bore also the date "1846," written in pencil. This, I was told, 
was the date of the letter which was formerly within the cover. 

This specimen has a well authenticated history. In 1846 the crew of 
a shipwrecked French vessel was brought into Baltimore. At that date there 
was no French consul in that city but the functions of the consul at Phila- 
delphia extended to Baltimore. The consul, Monsieur d'Hauterive, was in- 
formed that these sailors were destitute and wished to be sent home. He 
despatched an agent to Baltimore to make proper investigations, take testi- 
mony and report to him. This agent used the copy of the frank which I 
have described. 

ADHESIVE STAMP. 

White Wove Paper 
Imperforate. 
May 17th, 1846. (5 cents) black 

While the date of use is later than that known on some copies of the 
Baltimore stamps which are described at the beginning of this chapter, I am 
inclined to think that it was issued earlier than those stamps and was the 
successor of the stamped envelopes. 




Concerning this stamp we have but scant information. It is believed 
to have been issued by the Baltimore postmaster about 1848. 

The only known copy is on the original cover, addressed to Mr. Samuel 
Lynch, Jeweller, Hillshoro, N. C. It was found by Mr. F. W. Hunter in 



Design. 



Historical. 



Hefereuce List. 



i8 



BALTIMORE, MD. 



Historical. 



Reference List. 



Design. 



Date of I'se. 



examining the correspondence of the addressee, and now adorns a celebrated 
collection in Paris. The envelope bears the regular cancellation mark of the 
city of Baltimore. The date is somewhat indistinct but appears to be April 
12. The year, as usual, is not given on the cover. It is, however, supplied 
by the letter and is 1848. There are also the cancellation " paid " and figure 
"10" in an oval, hand-stamped in blue, as previously described for this city. 
None of these, however, touch the stamp, which is cancelled by two pen 
strokes. The word " paid " is also written on the envelope. The stamp 
measures 23x25mm. The use of the postmaster's stamps after the appearance 
of the Government issue of 1847 is not unknown ; both the Baltimore and 
the St. Louis stamps have been reported as used after that date. 

ADHESIVE STAMP. 

Yellowish White Wove Paper. 

Imperforate. 

April 12th, 1848. 10 (cents) black 

The reader will kindly remember that this stamp is chronicled " for 
what it is worth," and without guarantee or even an expression of personal 
opinion. There is always the possibility that it is merely an ornamental 
label which some one has affixed to the cover through a whim or to deceive. 

FAID 




The postmaster of Baltimore also issued stamped envelopes. They 
are simple affairs, being ordinary envelopes of the period, bearing the written 
signature of the postmaster, or a hand-stamped fac-simile of it, in the upper 
right corner ; below this are the word " paid " and large numeral in an oval, 
which latter marks were in regular use in the post office to indicate prepay- 
ment of postage. The impressions are in blue for the 5 cents and red for the 
10 cents. The hand stamped signatures are usually in black though some- 
times in blue. They appear to have been made with ordinary writing ink. 
One copy is known on which the word " paid " is placed above the signature. 

The single envelopes each bear one accountant's check mark, while 
those with the double impression of the " 5 " have two checks. 

I have seen only one copy of the envelope with written signature. It 
is dated Sept. 22, 1845. The signature is in black ink. 

Of the envelopes with hand-stamped signature the only date of use 
which I have been able to secure is Nov. 24. The year is not given but is, 
presumably, 1845. 

All the Baltimore envelopes are of a high degree of rarity and I believe 
only one specimen of each variety of the ten cents red has been discovered. 



BALTIMORE, MD. 



J 9 



From the dates of use it would appear that the envelopes were issued 
in advance of the adhesive stamps. 



ENVELOPES. 



Kefereuce List. 



1845. 



5 (cents) blue on manila, signature written 



5 (cents) blue on white 
5 (cents) blue on buff 
5 (cents) blue on salmon 
5x5 (cents) blue on white 
5x5 (cents) blue on buff 
10 (cents) red on white 
10 (cents) red on buff 



hand-stamped 



Ursiirii. 



Historical. 



Keference List. 



Boscawen, N, H 

PAID 

5 

C£NT S 



This stamp is believed to have been issued in 1846 by the Postmaster of 
Boscawen, N. H. The postmaster from 1845 to I &5 1 was Worcester Webster, 
a relative of the celebrated Daniel Webster. 

The stamp is of the most primitive nature. It appears to have been 
produced from a few carelessly set type and is hand-stamped in dull blue ink 
on thin, yellowish white, hand-made paper, in quality like coarse tissue paper. 
The word "paid" measures 13x3mm., "cents " is 17^x3111111., and the 
numeral is 6^mm. high and 6mm. wide. The only copy known is in the 
collection of Mr. H. E. Deats. It is on a small white envelope, addressed 
to Concord, N. H. The stamp is uncancelled. In the upper left corner is 
written — presumably by the postmaster, as was the custom of the period — 
" Boscawen, N. H., Dec. 13," in two lines. 

The following letter accompanies this cover: 

Plainfield, N. J , Feb. 28, 1894. 
Mr. H. E. Deats, 

Dear Sir :— Permit me to enclose foi -your inspection a few philatelic gems. * * * 
The old and very curious envelope 1 have owned for the past 29 years and came into 
possession of it at the general post-office in Washington, I). C. through Mr. Win. M. Ireland, 
who was then chief cleik and the Third Asst. P. M General. As you will see, the mailing 
office, Boscawen, was written on the corner, as was the custom of P. M 's in those days, 
when no cancellation stamp was used. It performed its duty as a postal envelope and 1 
do not doubt but it is as genuine as any of the provisional issues of the period before stamps 
were issued. * * * , Yours truly, 

H. H. Lowrie, A. P. A. 

Inquiries made in Boscawen have failed to supply any further informa- 
tion. 

ADHESIVE STAMP. 

Yellowish White Wove Paper. 
Imperforate. 
"18 — . 5 cents dull blue 

It will perhaps not be amiss to remind ourselves at this point that, at 
the period which we are considering, the salaries of the postmasters depended 
on the cash receipts of their offices. They were, therefore, anxious to have 
as many letters as possible sent prepaid. This may explain, the issue of 
stamps in comparatively small towns, as well as the quite expensive designs 
provided by some of the postmasters. 



Brattleboro, Vt. 




This stamp was issued by Frederick N. Palmer, who was postmaster 
at Brattleboro from July, 1845, to November, 1848. The issue was probably 
made in the summer of 1846. In the collection of Mr. C. F. Bishop there is 
a copy of the stamp on the original cover. The enclosed letter is dated 
August 27th, 1846, and the writer says : "I pay this just to show you the 
stamp. It is against my principles, you know." From this we may infer 
that the stamp was a novelty and probably had very recently appeared. 

From the character of the engraving and impression we conclude that 
the material of the plate was copper. The stamps measure 21x14mm Each 
was separately engraved and, consequently, differs slightly from the others. 
Spaces about imm. wide divided the stamps from each other and, likewise, 
the rows. Through the middle of these spaces were drawn thin lines of 
color. There were not, however, any such lines on the outer sides of the 
stamps. It has long been understood that the plate contained ten stamps, 
arranged in two horizontal rows of five, with the imprint " Eng' 1 . by Tho\ 
Chubbuck, Bratt".." below the middle stamp of the bottom row. This arrange- 
ment will be discussed in a later paragraph. The autographic initials.in the 
center of each stamp are, of course, those of the postmaster. The stamps 
were printed in black on thick buff wove paper. 

The history of the Brattleboro stamp is entertainingly set forth in the 

philatelic magazines. In the American Journal of Philately, dated January 

20th, 1869, appeared an article by Dr. J. A. Petrie, in which was included 

the following letter : 

Newton Corner, Mass., Dec. 10th, 1808. 

Dear Sir : — You are mistaken in saying that the stamps about which you inquire 
have never been described. 

I received about two years ago a little paper printed in Vermont (I now forget by 
whom and in what exact locality), devoted to the subject of postage stamps. 

It mentioned the private stamp issued by me as P. M. at Brattleboro. 

This paper was sent me in a letter by a person who was very desirous to obtain the 
original plate from which they were printed. 

I was appointed sometime during tiie first year of Mr. Polk's administration ; Hon. 
Cave Johnson, P. M. General. 

Mr. Polk was elected in 1845.* 



Date of Issue. 



Engraving ami 
Arrangement. 



Historical. 



Letter of Post- 
master Palmer. 



*The writer means inaugurated. 



BRATTLEBORO, VT. 



The stamps were issued, I think, during my first year as P. M , and I suppose them 
to be the very first P. O. stamps issued in this country. 

It was a strictly private thing, neither ordered or repudiated by the P. O. Department, 
and in my account with the Department made no difference. 

My object in issuing it was to accommodate the people and save myself labor in 
making and collecting quarterly bills, almost everything at that time being either charged or 
forwarded without prepayment. 

1 was disappointed in the effect, having still to charge the stamps and collect my bills. 

I retained the office during the balance of Mr. Polk's term, and used the stamps more 
or less during my connection with the office. 

The canceling with red ink was uniform, though much a matter of choice. 

As to the number issued, 1 should say only five or six hundred as an experiment. 

They were engraved by Mr. Thomas Chubbuck, then of Brattleboro, now of Spring- 
field, Mass., who wrote me about a year since inquiring about the original plate. 

The plate was laid aside and I have never been able to find it, though it may yet 
come to light. 

I have none of the stamps by me, have not seen one for a great while, and think I 
could scarcely describe it correctly. 

Yours, &c, 
To J. A. Petrie, M. D., F. N. Palmer, M. D. 

Elizabeth, N. J. 

This article also gives a description of the stamps and says they were 
printed from a steel plate and that " they are, so far as I have been able to 
Cancellation s. find, cancelled with a stroke of red ink drawn in part across them." The 
" cancelling with red ink," mentioned by Mr. Palmer, was probably the familiar 
cancellation "paid" which, as far as is known, was stamped in red on all 
postally used copies. The obliteration by a pen mark of red writing ink was 
quite another affair, as will shortly be made evident. 

In the Stamp Collector 's Magazine for November, 1870, we find an 
interesting article by Mr. L. H. Bragg. He begins by quoting a note which 
appeared in No. 3 of the Stamp Collector 's Record, published at Albany, N. Y., 
February 15th, 1865. This was, doubtless, the paper to which Mr. Palmer 
intended to refer, and the description of the stamps given by it was probably 
the first to appear in print, at least in a philatelic publication. The writer 
summarizes all references to the stamp, which had appeared to that date, and 
gives a brief digest of the articles. None of this is sufficiently new or in- 
teresting to repeat. He continues : 

So much for the public history of the stamp to the present date. Now for the results 
of my own investigations. On the 2nd of last September, I called upon Mr. Thomas Chub- 
Iutervlew with buck, at his office in Springfield, stated to him the gist of the facts I have here detailed at 
Mr Chubbuck. length, and learned the full particulars of his own connection with the matter. He went to 
Boston in 1845, and remained there until June 13, 1848, and being something of a musical 
amateur, he formed the acquaintance of postmaster Palmer, who was then a music teacher ; 
hence it came about that he was one day persuaded to engrave "the Brattleboro stamp." 
The chief object of the postmaster in issuing the stamp, as Mr Chubbuck recollects it, was 
to turn an honest penny, in this wise : By Act of March 3, 184s, uniform rates of 5 cents 
and 10 cents, for letter postage under and over 3,000 miles, respectively, were established, 
but prepayment was left at the option of the senders. Now, as his own official salary was 
proportionate to the cash receipts of his office, it was for each postmaster's interest to have 
as many as possible of the letters deposited at his office prepaid ; and Mr. Palmer's idea was 
that the novelty of these stamps would induce many to prepay their letters with them who 
otherwise would not attend to that then rather uncommon duty. Especially as he sold his 
stamps on credit to those with whom he had private or official business accounts, did he 
expect that this would be likely to be the case. 

As the correspondent of the Journal shows, the use of the stamp did not (as the Record 
claimed) abrogate the necessity of branding " Paid 5 cents" upon each letter prepaid with it, 
the same as upon each one prepaid with coin; and it was to this old-established "paid" 
mark, and not to the presence of the stamp itself, that the outside postmasters gave attention 
when taking account of letters received from Brattleboro Regarding the length of time that 
the stamps were in use, Mr. Chubbuck was quite confident that Dr. Palmer was in error in 



BRATTLEBORO, VT. 



2 3 



stating that he " employed them occasionally up to the end of his official term " (March 3, 
1849), as he (Mr. C.) distinctly recollects that the postmaster burned all the unsold stamps in 
his possession immediately on the appearance of the 5 and 10 cent " U. S. post-office" 
stamps issued under authority of the Act of March 3, 1847. Thus on the one hand is shown 
the error of the Record in supposing the stamp to have been prepared and used as a temporary 
substitute for the current " Franklin 5," when the supply of the latter chanced to be ex- 
hausted ; and on the other, the error of Dr. Petrie, in supposing it to have been used con- 
tinuously until March, 1849. The latter writer, too, probably makes an erroneous inference 
in placing 1845 as the date of issue. Mr. Chubbuck had no memoranda by which he could 
recall the exact date of delivering the stamps to the postmaster, as his cash account showed 
that he collected the bill for his services (" seven and a half dollars, for engraving the plate ; 
one dollar and a half, for printing 500 stamps ; total, nine dollars") at the time of his leaving 
town, June, 1848. He is inclined to believe, however, that as he did not go to Brattleboro 
until May 30, 1845, and did not form the acquaintance of Dr. Palmer, until sometime after- 
wards, he could not have engraved the stamps before the opening of 1846. Another indi- 
cation in this direction is the fact, that as Dr. Palmer was not appointed until "sometime 
during the year " which began March 4, 1 845— perhaps not till toward the end of the calendar 
year, — he would not be likely to think of doing so novel a thing as to issue a postage stamp 
until he had become well settled in office. I think, then, that it is reasonable to conclude 
that the life of the Brattleboro stamp was of less than twelve months' duration, divided pretty 
equally between the years 1846 and 1847. 

Dr. Palmer states that but few were used, as would naturally be the case in so modest 
a village, in so short an interval ; and Mr. Chubbuck adds, that the balance in stock of the 
original 500 impressions were burned in 1847. Hence, as the most persistent searching has Unsold stamps 
failed to bring to light the original plate, it is no wonder that the very existence of the stamp burned in 184 7. 
has been called in question ; and it is undoubted that the few impressions in existence are, 
and always will be, among the very rarest of authentic postal labels. The editor's hint may 
be counted for certain — that there will never be "an invasion of Brattleboros," — for the 
"large portion of the issue hidden in some surprisingly out-of-the-way nook," for some 
"enterprising dealer to discover," does not exist. 

A small portion of the issue, however, does exist, and that portion is now in my own 
possession. The copperplate prepared by Mr Chubbuck contained eight stamps each in- 
tended to be identical with the other, but showing under the microscope minute differences 
in the lines and shadings. Besides the regular border of each stamp, a fine line was drawn 
on the plate on each side of the stamps where they met, in order to separate each one, much 
as the marks of perforation separate the stamps of a sheet now. Hence, by paying careful 
attention to these lines on a single detached stamp, one could decide the exact part of the 
plate of which it was the impression. The eight stamps of the plate were engraved quite 
closely together, and the outer margins, though not broad, were so much broader than the 
inner one as to be at once noticeable. Upon this narrow outer margin, at the bottom of the 
stamp next the left corner one, on the lower row, was the imprint, in minute characters, 
EfiG D - by thos. chubbuck, bratt°- The general appearance of each stamp was described with 
tolerable correctness in the notice quoted from the Record, and the cut which heads this 
article renders further notice of it unnecessary. It may be remarked, however, that the 
paper of the stamp was rather a deep shade of buff than an actual brown. 

Now, on the day when the engraver delivered these 500 stamps, together with the 
eight-faced plate, to the postmaster, he bethought himself that he should like to preserve a 
specimen copy of his work, and so, with the postmaster's consent, he laid aside a sheet of Significance of the 
eight, and afterwards stuck the same, with red wafers, into his general scrap book. Before rP( i peu ma,-^ 
removing the stamps from the office, however, though his friend protested against the formal 
security against fraud, he took the Litter's pen and obliterated them, by drawing a red-ink 
stroke through the left upper corner of each stamp on the sheet. Seven of these stamps, on 
the afternoon of my visit to Mr. Chubbuck, were found lying loosely among his other scraps 
and specimens, and were quickly transferred to me. The fate of the eighth is uncertain, the 
engraver having the impression that he had laid it away by itself as a specimen. 

The rank held by the stamp is fortunately not a matter of doubt. It is of exactly the 
same nature as the better-known provisional "post-office " issues of New York, Providence 
and St. Louis Like them, it was issued on the postmaster's private responsibility, to assist 
in the public, official duties of his office ; and, like them, it was superseded by the 5 cent 
and 10 cent " U. S. post-office" issues of 1847. Dr. Palmer's supposition, that his was the 
first post-office stamp issued in America, is, very possibly, a mistaken one, as Mr. Chubbuck 
well remembered the " big head " stamp of New York, and was under the impression that 
the idea of issuing the Brattleboro stamp, was derived from the success of this. 

In conclusion, it is worth noticing that the inscription "post-office" instead of 
" postage," on the fust regular issue of government stamps, was probably derived from that 
upon the provisional issues, — the idea being that the stamps of the " U. S.", or general 
" post-office," would serve alike for the "New York," " Providence," " St. Louis," " Brat- 
tleboro," and all other " post-offices" within the national domain. 



24 BRATTLEBORO, VT. 

Here we have an explanation of the red pen marks. It may be well 
to remark, at this point, that in the illustration of a restored plate which 
accompanies this book, numbers 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and the single copy below the 
plate were all cancelled by a pen-stroke in red ink and, doubtless, came from 
the sheet kept by Mr. Chubbuck. Traces of these marks may be seen on some 
of the varieties, on others it was not retained in the photograph. 

In the American Journal of Philately for November 20th, 1870, is 
published a letter from Dr. J. A. Petrie in which he refers to the foregoing 
Corrections, article. After indulging in some little journalistic amenities he says, referring 
to Mr. Bragg: " He states that there were only 500 of the Brattleboro stamps 
printed when the fact is 500 impressions of the plate were worked off, making 
4,000 stamps. Mr. Chubbuck moved from Boston, his former home, to Brat- 
tleboro, and not as L. H. B. has it, from Brattleboro to Boston." 

Following this, there appeared in the same journal, under the date of 
January 20th, 187 1, an article by Mr. J. W. Scott. At the head of this article 
is a group of ten rectangles, intended to show the arrangement of the stamps 
on the plate. The second space is occupied by a wood cut which is a very 
tolerable reproduction of the variety of the stamp which filled that position on 
the plate. The writer says: 

" In the January number of Volume II of this paper, we gave the full history or all 
that was then known concerning the Brattleboro' stamp, but since then an American writer 
in the Stamp Collector's Magazine has thrown new light on the subject, which has opened 
the way for further discoveries, concerning this interesting stamp. The article in question 
is also valuable for pointing out some errors in Dr. Palmer's statement, which the writer 
erroneously attributes to Dr. Petrie, but unfortunately nearly all his own statements are 
incorrect. 

Upon seeing the paper on the Brattleboro' stamp, in the Stamp Collector's Magazine, 
in which the writer stated he had a sheet of seven varieties, our publishers being determined 
to secure the sheet at any cost, immediately wrote the possessor, offering to pay more than 
any one else, whatever the price might be, but that gentleman having already given another 
party the refusal of them, at what he considered a high figure, they were compelled to pur- 
chase of the new owner, at four times the price the discoverer realized ; directly upon seeing 
the sheet we were struck with the curious appearance of the engraver's imprint, which in- 
stead of being at either end or in the middle, was under the second from the end ; upon 
examining the back we clearly saw traces of the wafers mentioned in L. H. B's letter, — of 
these there were one at each corner of the left hand and one above the stamp that the imprint 
was under ; if the sheet had been stuck down in this way, the two right hand ones would 
have been loose and liable to turn up, which to say the least was 'a strange manner of fixing 
them in a book. These circumstances were sufficient evidence to us that the sheet had 
originally consisted of ten varieties, but we certainly should not have stated it here unless we 
could prove it beyond doubt. The Brattleboro' in our own collection, which was obtained 
from one formed in New Brunswick, and was cancelled by a red pen-mark, was at once con- 
lUconstruction suited, and was found to be different to any on the sheet, and to have a wide margin on the 
of (lie slieM. left end ■which corresponded to the margin on three sides of the shed Letters despatched to 
two collectors, who were known to have Brattleboro' cancelled by red, in a few days brought 
the desired stamps and also the owners. The stamps were placed together and found to fit 
exactly, each one being different. Photographs of the complete sheet were then taken (which 
by the way will be presented to any one who gets up a club of ten subscribers to the Journal, 
and to no one else under any consideration), and the stamps distributed to their respective 
owners, in all probability never to be replaced." 

As nearly as can be determined from this article, the block of seven 
stamps there described contained numbers 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the plate 
and numbers 1, 2 and 6 were added to complete it. 

After reading this article I made search among collectors for a copy of 
the photograph mentioned and succeeded in obtaining one. Unfortunately, 
it was so badly faded as to be useless for reproduction. After the inevitable 



BRATTLEBORO, VT. 



2 5 



losses in that process, there would remain nothing legible. However, the 
lettering and stronger lines were still sufficiently distinct to enable me, on com- 
paring a stamp with the photograph, to readily determine its original position. 
If the reader will refer to the .illustration (Plate B), he will at once perceive 
that an excellent guide is offered by the shape and position of the dash under- 
neath the initials of the postmaster. I decided to restore the plate by means 
of fresh photographs of the several varieties, taken from stamps kindly loaned 
me by friends. In this, I succeeded all too well, since I have obtained photo- 
graphs of eleven varieties, all undoubtedly genuine, when the plate is supposed 
to have contained only ten. I had just secured the ten varieties shown in the 
old photograph, when Mr. Francis C. Foster kindly sent me a specimen from 
his collection, the celebrated copy on which he squandered the large sum of 
sixty cents. Behold ! it was an eleventh variety. There appears to be no 
question of its absolute genuineness. The character of the engraving, im- 
pression and paper preclude any possibility of doubt on this point. In addition 
it bears Mr. Chubbuck's red pen-mark. The ink of this mark is, by-the-bye, 
of a peculiar dull rose or magenta shade, not easily mistaken when once seen. 
Having this eleventh type, the question naturally arises, where does it 
belong? Mr. Scott distinctly says that the stamps from which his original 
photograph was made fitted together, that one had a broad margin at the left 
and that the engraver's imprint was under the middle stamp of the lower row. 
I have seen stamp number 5 in the plate with a broad margin at the right. 
It, therefore, seems probable that these two rows were complete as shown in 
the illustration. Were there then other rows on the plate ? If so, they must 
have been placed in another group or pane, since certain of the stamps in the 
group of ten have margins at top or bottom wider than the space between the 
two rows, thus proving there were no stamps immediately adjacent to them. 
The eleventh variety also has a wide margin at the bottom. Assuming that 
there were other rows of the stamps, I have sought to find further varieties that 
differed from what we may call the original ten. But, though I have seen 
duplicates of many of the ten, I have been unable to advance beyond this 
puzzling eleventh variety. It has been suggested that a single stamp was first 
engraved as a sample. This, proving satisfactory, was used as a guide for 
the group of ten, which was subsequently engraved on the same plate. The 
impressions for the postmaster were probably taken from the ten only, but 
a few sheets, such as that saved by Mr. Chubbuck, may have shown the 
eleventh stamp. I regret that I must leave the subject in this unsettled 
condition. 

ADHESIVE STAMP. 

Thick Buff Wove Paper. 
Imperforate. 
Aug. (?) 1846. 5 cents'black. n varieties 



Discovery of an 
eleventh variety. 



Reference List. 



Lockport, N, Y. 




Historical. 



Design. 



Uefereuce List. 



This stamp is practically without a history. There are no records or 
traditions of its issue. The only copy known to exist was found in Lockport 
among the correspondence of an old firm. It was purchased by the Scott 
Stamp and Co., Ltd., from the finder, a gentleman well and favorably known 
to them. They have every reason to believe in the bona-fides of the finder 
and the authenticity of the stamp. It was affixed to a double sheet of letter- 
paper. The sheet having been folded, it was addressed on the first or outer 
side to Robert Monell, Esq., Geneva, N. Y. On the second page was the 
letter, dated March 18, 1846, and signed by Holmes & Moss. The reply was 
written on the third page. The sheet was then refolded and addressed to 
Messrs. Holmes & Moss, Lockport, N. Y. On this side it bears the postmark 
"Geneva, N. Y., Mch. 24." Thus the stamp returned to its place of origin. 
As a rule, we do not expect to find the postmasters stamps in the cities in 
which they were issued but in other cities, to which they have franked letters. 
This copy now adorns a celebrated European collection. Hezekiah W. 
Scovell was postmaster at Lockport in 1846. 

The double-lined oval with the name of the place measures 32x23mm. 
and is hand-stamped in dull red on a small piece of coarse wove paper, buff 
in color and 34x25mm. in dimensions. By a second operation the word 
"paid", 16x4mm., is stamped in the upper part of the inner oval, in ink of 
the same shade. Below this is the numeral "5 ", in manuscript, in black ink. 
The stamp is cancelled by crossed penstrokes of black. The postmark and 
word " paid " are impressed on the cover in red. The latter mark is identical 
with the same word on the stamps and might be supposed to be a cancellation 
in both instances but, as one agrees in shade with the postmark and the other 
with the stamp, it is probable that the latter constitutes part of the stamp. 

ADHESIVE STAMP. 

Buff Wove Paper. 
Imperforate. 
1846, 5 cents red and black 



Millbury, Mass, 




Historical. 



Colonel Asa H. Waters was postmaster at Millbury, from January 18th, 
1836, to November 10th, 1848. During that period the stamp illustrated above 
was issued. The earliest cancellation known is [uly 1 8th, 1846. The stamps Date of Issue. 
were made from a roughly cut wood block and printed one at a time on a 
hand-press. They are 22mm. in diameter. The portrait was apparently in- 
tended to represent Washington. It has been claimed that there are two 
varieties of this stamp, but I have failed to discover more than one, though I 
have examined either the original or a photograph of every known copy 
but one. 

The usual cancellation of the Millbury stamp is the^word "paid" in 
red. The letters bear in addition a large figure " 5 " in a circle and the dated 
cancellation of the city. It is interesting to note that in the cancellation the 
name is spelled " Milbury." 

Col. Waters was, at the time of his postmastership, largely interested in 
manufactures and left the work of the post-office in the hands of his deputies. 
To one of them, Henry Waterman, we owe the stamp. 

Seeing the stamps of the New York Post Office he perceived their utility 
and, in order that his own town might enjoy a similar convenience, had the 
block cut in Boston and a supply of stamps printed from it. 

The first copy of this stamp was discovered in a bound volume of letters 
in the library of the American Antiquarian Society at Worcester, Mass. For 
a long time only three copies were known, but in recent years several more 
have been found, including a perfect unused copy with full gum, which is now 
in the collection of M. La Renotiere (Ferrary). 

The following letter, which I reproduce by permission of Mr. H. E. 

Deats, may interest philatelists: 

Millbury, Jan. 24, 1885. 
Mr. Paine 

Dear Sir : — On referring to my commission as P. M. at Millbury, 1 find it dated Jan. 
18th, 1836, and signed by Amos Kendall, P. M. General, 



28 MILLBURY, MASS. 

It has this endorsement : " Resigned to Henry Waterman, Nov. 10, 1848, A. H. W.' 

In all the years I held the office I never had much to do with the details but relied 
mostly on my deputies. Waterman was the last and best and 1 got him appointed in my 
place. He was a jeweller by trade, quite ingenious, and 1 have an impression he did get up 
some kind of P. M. stamp, but too slight to state positively. He came from Providence, R. I., 
whither he returned many years ago and I believe is living there still. If so, he could 
probably give you more satisfactory information than I can. 

Turning to my file of letters — some of which date back sixty odd years— I find postage- 
marked from 6J4 to 25 cents according to distance, up to 1845. ' find on the letters a "5" 
in a circle and 1 find several in years following stamped in the same way " 5 " or " 10." The 
first affixed stamp I have found is on a letter dated " Grafton, March 21, 1849." Being P. M. 
most of my letters came " free." 

1 wish to enquire why this eager pursuit of a 5 cent Millbury P. O. stamp of 1845 — 
for which several advertisements have appeared in papers What's up? 

Very respectfully yours, 

Asa H Waters. 

Nothing is now known of the block from which the stamps were printed 
and we may assume that it has been destroyed. 

Reference List. ADHESIVE STAMP. 

Gray-blue Wove Paper. 
Imperforate. 
1846. 5 cents black 



New Haven, Ct 




These envelopes were issued by E. A. Mitchell, who was postmaster 
at New Haven from 1844 to 1852. 

Nearly all the envelopes were supplied by the customers. Most of 
them were white, though other colors are known. They were hand-stamped 
in red or blue and signed in ink of a contrasting color, either blue, red or 
black. The design is 31mm. high and 26mm. wide. 

In the American Journal of Philately for May 20th, 1871, there ap- 
peared an interesting account of these envelopes and the following letter from 

Mr. Mitchell: 

New Haven, Ct., May 15, 1871. 
J. A. Petrie, M D., 

Dr. Sir : — 

Yours of the 6th and 19th are at hand. Being extensively engaged in business. I 
have but little spare time to devote to the postage stamp matter. My object in getting up 
this stamp was simply to accommodate the public, as 1 charged no profit. The postage 
was uniform, 5c for all distances, and weight, 1 think, half ounce ; same as at present, but 
prepaid. 

As no letters could be paid after business hours or Sundays, these were convenient for 
that purpose as well as others. 

Many brought their own envelopes, and I only charged 5c, for the postage. 

The business of the office was so limited, that, to prevent objection by the P. O. 
Department, or forgery, I signed each one. 

The stamp (or die) is a small hand-stamp, and was made by F. P. Gorham, then the 
principal engraver of New Haven, but now deceased. I considered the whole matter at the 
time, of so little importance, that many minor facts in the case are entirely gone from my 
mind. I think all were printed on white envelopes, and stamped in red ink and signed in 
blue ink Red ink (vermilion) was used as the office ink in stamping the letters, and think 
that must have been the color. 

It is possible that buff envelopes were used for a few, but probably not. 

I have no way of knowing how many were printed, or when commenced and ended, 
as all my papers and accounts of current business of the office are destroyed. The amount 
sold were few and probably not over 2,000 all together. They being done by hand and with 
no motive of profit, they were not generally offered for sale. 1 was appointed Post-Master 
Sept. 12th, 1844, and was succeeded by John B. Robertson in 1852. 

1 cannot state the cost of the plate. 

The plate or stamp is a single short hand-stamp. The stamp is of brass. There was 
only one denomination that being 5c. The impression was always on envelopes. 1 had 



Colors 



Historical. 



3° NEW HAVEN, CT. 

not thought of the stamp since leaving the Post office until 1 received a letter from Mr. 
Brown, and after hunting up the stamp, I printed a few myself and sent him, writing on 
them, " canceled " Thinking possibly there might be some objection by the P. O. Depart- 
ment to my striking off impressions, I enclosed a copy to the P. M. Gen'l, giving a short 
history of it, and asking if there would be any objection to my furnishing some to friends 
and stamp collectors. Unlike his predecessors, C. A. Wickliffe, Cave Johnson and Mr. 
Collamer, under whom I served, who always required any respectful letter to be answered, 
he has not given me any reply ; this is my reason for writing cancelled on those sent Mr. 
Brown. 

So far 1 have not had over 20 impressions issued. If 1 had any on hand when I left 
the office they were destroyed, as stamps came in use the latter part of my term. I have had 
three applications for the die, and am offered as high as $ioo for it. Parties also want a 
stereotype plate made, and others want 1,000 of the impressions 

As the original purpose was not to make money, so I shall positively refuse to sell any 
impressions, or sell the stamp. 

As the stamp seems to possess a centenial kind of value quite unanticipated by me, I 
have decided to place it in possession of the New Haven Colonial Historical Society. 

1 shall in a few days have a pad ready so that 1 can print a few perfect impressions, 
when I will send you a few more 

I have not as yet heard of any of the old envelopes coming to light. As all originals 
had my own signature, of course I cannot furnish lots to dealers, even if I wished. 

I am yours, 

E. A. Mitchell. 

The New Haven envelope was first described by Mr. Wm. Brown in 
the Curiosity Cabinet for May, 187 1. Mr. Brown had found a copy, cut 
Tiie first copy square, in a collection which he purchased and which afterwards proved to 
l "" 1 " 1 ' have been stolen from a prominent lawyer of New Haven. The rightful 

owner presented Mr. Brown with the stamp In describing these envelopes 
and their history he wrote: "Some of the post-offices refused to recognize 
them and reported the facts to the Department. As, however, the stamps 
could only be used at the New Haven office and were sent as prepaid matter, 
properly entered on the New Haven post bill, there could be no loss to 
the Government, and the Department, taking a liberal view of the subject, 
authorized their continuance." I very much doubt that these envelopes were 
ever " authorized " and would suggest that " allowed " would probably be the 
more correct word. 

A second copy of the envelope was found in 1886 by Mr. R. C. Fagan, 
of Middletown, Conn. This was entire but the stamp was badly faded. It 
other copies. passed into the hands of Mr. C. H. Mekeel who, by the advice of a friend, 
treated it with sulphate of iron, which effectually obliterated all of it but the 
signature. A third copy was purchased by Mr. E. B. Sterling in June, 1892, 
at a sale of autographs. For this copy Mr. Sterling paid the very moderate 
sum of ten cents. These are all the copies of which we have any published 
accounts. But several other copies are known to exist in collections. 

The reprints were made on. several occasions The first lot, about 
twenty impressions, was made in 1871 for Mr. W. P. Brown. They were in 
Keprints. dull blue, on thick hard white paper, with the signature and word "copy" 

written in lilac-rose ink One specimen is known without the word "copy." 
Shortly after the first reprinting a second lot was struck off for Dr. J. A. 
Petrie. There were about thirty in this lot. The impressions were in carmine- 
red, slightly paler than the originals. Most of them were signed in dark blue 
ink, but a few copies are known with the signature in black. The paper is 
the same as that of the first reprints. At a later period a third and larger lot 
were printed for Mr. N. F. Seebeck. These are in dull red on soft yellowish 



NEW HAVEN, CT. 



3* 



white paper. None of these last reprints were signed but copies are known 
with a forged signature. The reprints were not made on envelopes but only 
on pieces of paper. They may be distinguished from the originals by the 
colors and by slight differences in the signature. 

Accepting Mr. Mitchell's expressed intention, collectors have for many 
years believed the original die to be in the possession of the New Haven 
Colonial Historical Society. But Mr. H. E. Deats has proven this to be 
incorrect and has definitely located the die. From correspondence, kindly 
placed at my disposal by Mr. Deats, I reproduce the following letter: 

April \}, 1897. 
H. E. Deats, Esck, 

Flemington, N. J. 

Dear Sir : — Referring further to the matter of the "New Haven Stamp" 1 find that 
the original die, together with some signed reprints, are in the possession of Mr. Edward 
Mitchell, the only grandson of the Mr. Mitchell, formerly postmaster here. 

The die and reprints were handed down to the present Mr. Mitchell on the death of 
his father, the only son of Postmaster Mitchell, and are regarded by the family as sort of an 
heirloom which money would not tempt them to part with. 

Mr. Peats, a friend of mine, who for many years prior to the death of Postmaster 
Mitchell was his confidential man. having the care of his most important matters, tells me 
that for a long time he himself had the care of this die, and did at the time the reprints were 
printed and signed in 1872, and that he knows that the die in Mr. Mitchell's possession now 
is the original. Respectfully yours, 

J. English. 

It is to be hoped, should this die ever pass from the possession of Mr. 
Mitchell's family, it will be into the care of some Society which will guard it 
fiom any further use for reprinting. 



1845- 



1871. 



ENVELOPES. 

5 (cents) deep carmine on white, signature in violet-red 
5 (cents) deep carmine on white, signature in dull blue 
5 (cents) deep carmine on pale blue, signature in black 
5 (cents) gray-blue on orange-buff, signature in black 
5 (cents) blue-black on buff, signature in blue 

REPRINTS. 

5 (cents) dull blue on white, signature in lilac-rose 

5 (cents) dull blue on white, signature and "copy" in 

lilac-rose 
5 (cents) carmine-red on brownish-buff, signature in dark 

blue 
5 (cents) carmine-red on white, signature in dark blue 
5 (cents) carmine-red on white, signature in black 
5 (cents) carmine-red on white, without signature 
5 (cents) red on white, without signature 
5 (cents) red on yellowish-white, without signature 



Present location 
of the die. 



Reference List. 



New' .York, N. Y. 




These stamps were issued during the postmastership of Robert H. 
Morris, which extended from May 21st, 1845 until 1849. They rightly stand 
at the head of the provisional issues by postmasters. 

The stamps were printed from a steel plate made by Rawdon, Wright 
tSc Hatch. It has been stated that this plate contained one hundred im- 
Si/.e of the plate, pressions, arranged in ten rows of ten. I cannot find any foundation for this 
claim, beyond a tradition that some one remembers having seen a quantity 
of the stamps in strips of ten. We know from sheets of postmasters stamps, 
carriers, locals, etc., that the custom of the period was to make much smaller 
plates. 

The following copies of accounts have been obtained from the records 
of the manufacturers: 



.845. 
July 12. 



Postmaster R. H. Morris. 

Engraving steel plate of Post Office stamps, 

Printing 1,000 impressions, 

167 sheets paper and gumming do 



Delivered July 12, 1845. 

•' 14, " 

" 15, " 

" 16, " 

Aug. 28, 

Sept. 17, " 

" Oct. 3, " 

Total, 966 impressions. 

Postmaster R. H. Morris. 

Printing 2,590 sheets Post Office stamps from Nov. 25, 

1845, to Jan. 7 1847, $2S 90 

431 sheets paper and gumming @ }c, 12 -93 



amps, 




$40.00 
10.00 


3 C - 




5.01 




$55.01 


30 


mp 


essions. 


20 




" 


120 




" 


270 




" 


200 




" 


200 




" 


,26 




" 



$38.83 



NEW YORK, N. Y. 

Nov. 25, 1845, 400 impressions. 

500 " 

500 " 

50 
.87 
150 

100 " 

100 " 

400 
103 

Jan. 7, 1847, 100 



Total, 2,590 impressions. 

July 12 to Oct. 3, 1845, 9^6 

Grand total, 3,556 impressions. 

These records are apparently transferred from other books and the 
dates between November 25th, 1845 and January 7th, 1847, are missing. 
There are no further charges against Postmaster Morris. 

The usual charge, at that date, was one hundred dollars for a plate 
containing one hundred stamps. The rate for smaller plates was higher in 
proportion, to cover the cost of the design and die. It would seem a reason- 
able assumption that the charge of forty dollars would represent the price of 
a plate containing twenty-five stamps. 

Since Messrs. Rawdon, Wright & Hatch used 598 sheets for 3,556 im- 
pressions, it becomes evident that each sheet was cut into six pieces. The 
small difference of 5^ sheets may, doubtless, be attributed to spoiled im- 
pressions. I am informed by Mr. H. G. Mandel, an expert of the first rank 
upon all subjects of stamp manufacture, that, at the period we are considering, 
a large sheet of paper measured 28x22 inches. Such a sheet would cut into 
six pieces 9^x11 inches. And such a piece would take an impression from 
a plate of twenty-five stamps, five rows of five stamps each, and leave a good 
margin all around. It is also possible that the sheets of paper were smaller 
than 28x22 inches. 

Finally, 3,556 impressions from a plate containing twenty-five stamps 
would give a total of 88,900 stamps. In view of the limited correspondence 
of the day and the very general practice of sending letters marked " paid," 
this quantity of stamps would appear to be ample for the length .of time they 
were in use. 

There are a number of minor varieties, caused by touching up the 
plate and by defective transfers. The most prominent variety is that known 
as the " double line at bottom," the engraver having drawn an extra frame Minor varietie 
line on that side. It is said that this variety occurs three times on the sheet. 
In the collection of Mr. G. E. Jones there is a vertical pair with wide margins 
at the left and bottom, showing it to be from the lower left corner of the sheet. 
The upper stamp of the pair has the extra line. We can thus determine the 
position of one copy of this variety. Another prominent variety is caused by 
a misplaced transfer and shows the outlines of "five cents" repeated across 
the face of the letters. An interesting account of the minor varieties will be 
found in an article by Mr. F. W. Hunter, published in the Metropolitan 
Philatelist for March, 1894. Mr. H. E. Deats has endeavored to reconstruct 
the original sheet by means of pairs showing the different varieties but, so far, 
he has not succeeded, 



34 NEW YORK, N. Y. 

The stamps are found on a variety of papers. The commonest is a 
thin wove, of a pale bluish or grayish tint. The stamps on white paper are 
Paper, much less frequently met with and those on deep gray-blue paper are decidedly 

scarce. In addition to the several shades of wove paper, copies are known 
on ribbed and pelure paper and also a few which show portions of a water- 
mark of large Roman capitals. This is, doubtless, a papermaker's watermark. 
I have seen part of the letter " j," the top of an "e" or "f" and upright 
strokes which might belong to a variety of letters. 






<# yy* 



> II 1 I I IV v 

The stamps are usually endorsed with the initials of the postmaster or 
one of his assistants. It is said that at first the stamps were sold unsigned. I 

initials ou the have seen such copies, on white and bluish papers, cancelled July 18th and 
2 ist, 1845. It will be observed that these dates are close to that on which the 
stamps were issued. Fearing that they might be counterfeited, it was decided 
to authenticate the stamps by the endorsement of the postmaster. Mr. Morris 
undertook to do this but soon found that it required too much of his time and 
delegated the work to his assistants. It is believed that he signed only two 
sheets, on two succeeding days. On one sheet the initials " r. h. m." (i) read 
from top to bottom of the stamp in a slightly diagonal line. On the other 
sheet the direction of the endorsement is reversed and reads from bottom to 
top. The majority of the stamps are signed "a. c. m." (ii, III, iv) horizontally 
across the face. These are the initials of Alonzo Castle Monson, brother-in- 
law of Robert H. Morris. A similar endorsement (v) was made by Marciana 
Monson, brother of A. C. Monson. It is possible that W. C. R. Engrist, Mr. 
Morris' private secretary, and other clerks may have endorsed some of the 
stamps. The endorsements were always in red ink. 

The stamps were cancelled in various ways: with pen strokes in blue 
or red ink, the word "paid," the circular date marks of the office, a circle 
crossed by parallel lines, and the letters "u. s." in an octagon. All the hand- 
stamped cancellations were in red. 

It is not known what became of the original plate. The records of 
Rawdon, Wright & Hatch and their successors, the American Bank Note Co., 

Die mill Plates. are silent on this point. The original die is understood to be in the custody 
of the latter company. About 1862 a new plate was made from this die for 
George A. Hussey, of Hussey's Post. He was an obliging gentleman who 
supplied large quantities of locals and other stamps to the trade. When 
originals were not obtainable he made good the deficiency with reprints, or, 
rather than disappoint his customers, had new plates and stones made, that 
he might furnish the stamps required. These productions have been called 
by harsh names in later years, but perhaps the critics failed to appreciate the 
gentleman's intentions. 



NEW YORK, N. Y. 



35 



Sheets from the new plate have nine stamps, arranged in three rows 
of three. Each differs very slightly from the others, the most prominent 
variety being the middle stamp in the lower row, which has the white stock Reprints. 

shaded by crossed diagonal lines. From this plate reprints were struck in 
black on deep blue and white papers. Owing to irregular contraction of the 
paper after printing the reprints differ in size from each other and also from 
the originals. The originals measure 2oj^x28mm. The reprints on blue 
paper measure 20^x28)^111111. and those on white paper 2ox28^mm. The 
stamps on the original plate are 1^2111111. apart, while those on the reprint 
plate are separated by 2)4 mm. Other impressions were struck in blue, green, 
red and brown on white paper. As there were no originals in these colors 
these impressions are, at best, only proofs. 

From the copy book of Mr. R. H. Morris — kindly loaned me by Mr. 
Monson Morris — I quote the following interesting letter: 

Post Office, New York, July 12, 1845. 
My Dear Sir : — 1 have adopted a stamp which I sell at 5 cents each. The accom- 
panying is one. I prefer losing the cost of making them to having it insinuated that I am Letter of Post- 
speculating out of the public. Your office of course will not officially notice my stamp, but master Morris 
will be governed only by the post office stamp of prepayment. Should there by any accident to other Post- 
be deposited in your office a letter directed to the City of New York with one of my stamps masters. 
upon it, you will mark the letter unpaid the same as though no stamp was upon it, though 
when it reaches my office I shall deliver it as a paid letter. In this manner the accounts of 
the offices will be kept as now, there can be no confusion, and as each office is the judge of 
its own stamps there will be no danger from counterfeits. 

Robt. H. Morris, P. M. 
To P. M. Boston, Philadelphia, Albany, Washington. 

This shows plainly the expectations and intentions of the New York 
postmaster. I am told that, in the files of the Post Office Department at 
Washington, there are letters from postmasters, asking if the New York stamp 
was a postage stamp and that the reply to these inquiries was in the affirma- 
tive. But on referring to a quotation on page n, it will be seen that some- 
time in the next year the New York stamps were sent, by order of the Post- 
master-General, to the above cities, to be used as a test of the practicability 
of postage stamps. I have seen copies on the original covers, mailed in 
Boston on February 1st and April 1 ith, 1846. 

ADHESIVE STAMPS. Reference List. 

Imperforate. 
Wove Paper. 
July 1 2th, 1S45. 5 eents black on bluish 

5 cents black on gray-blue 

5 cents black on white 

5 cents black on yellowish white 

Varieties : 
5 cents black on bluish. Without signature 

5 cents black on gray-blue. 
5 cents black on white " 

5 cents black on yellowish white " 

Watermarked Paper. 
5 cents black on bluish 



36 



NEW YORK, N. Y. 



Envelopes. 



Historical. 



Letter of Post- 
master Morris 
to the Post- 
master General. 



1862 (?) 



Ribbed Paper. 
5 cents black on bluish 

Pelure Paper. 
5 cents black on bluish 

Variety : 
5 cents black on bluish. Without signature 
Reprints. 

Wove Paper. 
5 cents black on deep blue 
5 cents black on white 



Mr. Morris also issued envelopes but their design is uncertain, since 
no copy is known to have been preserved. The only description we have of 
them is given in the New York Express. On July 7th, 1845, its Washington 
correspondent, writing under date of the 2nd, says: 

"It was suggested in New York to Mr. Morris, your postmaster, that he might 
accommodate the public very much by selling stamped envelopes, as the law does not 
authorize the sale of stamps on the English plan. When he was here he laid the subject 
before the Postmaster-General, who has to-day decided that the postmaster can do this. The 
envelopes are to be marked with the amount of postage thereon, say 5 or 10 or more cents, 
as the case may be, and the initials of the postmaster are to be superadded, and then the 
envelopes can be sold. The object is to facilitate the payment of prepaid letters. Post- 
masters can intercharge envelopes whenever they can agree to do so among themselves." 

In the same journal for July 8th, 1845, we find the following editorial: 

Free Stamped Envelopes. — When the bill for cheap postage was before Congress, it 
contained a clause authorizing the sale of stamps on the plan of the English system. The 
provision was, however, stricken out, leaving the public only the old method of prepaying 
letters during the business hours of the post office. A suggestion was made to our new 
postmaster, Mr. Morris, that the public convenience would be very much promoted if he 
would sell envelopes which would pass free through his office. By this measure letters could 
be sent at any hour of the night to the post-office, and the postage paid, where the writer 
desired it, by enclosing it in a free envelope. The postmaster proposed to sell stamps at five 
cents each, but this not having been sanctioned by Congress, we should think would not be 
the best way ; and as the public convenience demands something of the kind, we are glad to 
learn that he has prepared envelopes of the kind referred to, some of which we have seen. 
They are marked five cents and under these words is the name r h. morris. For letters 
over one ounce they will be marked according to the post-office rates, in the same way. 
These envelopes will be sold by the postmaster at six and a quarter cents each, or sixteen for 
a dollar of the common kind and the common size. This will be as cheap or cheaper than 
they can be bought in small quantities at the stationers. A thin envelope will contain two 
letters and be subject only to a single postage. Envelopes of various sizes will also be fur- 
nished, and of fine quality when desired by the purchaser. The plan, we hear, has also been 
adopted by the postmaster at Washington, D. C, and has met the approval of the Postmaster- 
General. We think it is one not only of convenience to the public, but that it will add to 
the revenue of the department very considerably. 

Again I quote from Mr. Morris' copy book: 

Post Office, New York, July 30, 1845. 

My Dear Sir: — Yours of the 28th, marked 'private," was duly received. 

1 at first contemplated issuing envelopes with my name on them and selling them at 
the usual cost of the envelope and the postage upon it. and indeed, at the earnest solicitation 
of one or two friends, I prepared some, of which I sold in all about two dollars worth. I 
afterwards, upon mature reflection, determined I would not continue to do so, for the reason, 
among others, that I was unwilling to expose myself to the imputation that, while ostensibly 
I was selling them for the accommodation of the public, I was in reality doing it for the 
pecuniary profit of the difference between what envelopes could be purchased for by the 
quantity and what I should sell them for at retail. I therefore adopted instead of the en- 
velope a stamp, one of which is on the envelope herewith. These stamps 1 dispose of at 



NEW YORK, N. Y. 



37 



their face. I make nothing by them except such as may be lost or destroyed, but, on the 
contrary, have to pay for the plate and the impressions. 

I have adopted this plan first for the accommodation of the public and second to 
enable me practically to judge of the benefits of it, that you might make a representation to 
the next Congress, and procure, if desirable, a law authorizing government stamps and, I 
hope, a system of prepayment of letters 1 intended to have made this explanation to you 
before this. 1 have, however, been so occupied that I have neglected to do so and your 
letter reminded me of my duty. 

Very sincerely and respectfully yours, 
Hon. Cave Johnson, Robt H. Morris, P. M. 

P. M Genl., Washington. 

In view of the foregoing statements it cannot be doubted that en- 
velopes were issued by the postmaster at New York. The quantity was very 
limited, not exceeding forty. They were marked " five cents " and possibly Design and colors. 
"ten cents" and " R. H. Morris." Beyond this we have no information. 
The American Journal of Philately for January 1888, lists them as "5 cents 
black." I have been unable to find any authority for calling the color black 
and should, on the contrary, expect them to be stamped in red, as that was 
the color in use in the New York post-office at that date for cancellations 
and other hand-stamps. The signature of the postmaster may have been in 
red or black ink, as both colors were in use in the office. The former was 
the color used in signing the stamps. The Express speaks of the envelopes 
as of "the common kind and the common size," from which we may infer 
that they were the ordinary buff envelopes of the period. 



ENVELOPES. 



Reference List. 



July 7th, 1845. 



5 cents- 



-on- 



N 



Philadelphia, Pa. 

The claim that stamps were issued by George F. Lehman, postmaster 
at Philadelphia from 1845 to 1849, is based on nothing more substantial than 
tradition. No copy of anything which might have served as a postmaster's 
stamp, or which was in use at the date of the provisional issues by the post- 
masters of other cities, is known to-day. The carriers stamps are, of course, 
excepted from these remarks. 

The claim that something in the nature of stamps was used in Phila- 
delphia was first made in the American Journal of Philately for November 
20th, 1 87 1. In an article by "Cosmopolitan," on page 125, we find the 
following : 

" Another discovery, no less important than the last, has been made lately, viz.: a 
provisional stamp for the City of Philadelphia. For particulars of the emanation of this 
stamp, I am indebted to a gentleman occupying a prominent position in the General Post 
Historical. Office, who was engaged in the Philadelphia Post Office at the time the stamp was first 

issued. The exact date of its issue cannot be definitely ascertained, but it was during the 
administration of Dr. Geo. F. Lehman, postmaster of Philadelphia, between 1845 and 1849. 
It can hardly be called a stamp proper, as Dr Lehman had simply an arrangement by which 
parties, who might be compelled to mail letters after the close of the office, could have the 
necessary stamps placed on them by the clerks and charged to their accounts or collected by 
the carriers. In most cases this was a band in which the letters were enclosed and endorsed 
by the parties. But in other cases there were small slips printed and pasted on one corner 
of the letters. There were several varieties of them used, but, unfortunately, the most care- 
ful search has revealed no specimens as yet. There is no possible doubt but that they were 
actually used and in numbers, as my informant recollects them from 184s until 1849 anc ^ 
even afterwards." 

So far as 1 am aware, subsequent research has not added to our 
knowledge of or revealed the existence of a Philadelphia postmaster's stamp. 



Pittsfield, Mass. 



Again we have no positive proof in the shape of existing stamps, though 
the postmaster is credited with having issued them. 

Tiffany's History of the Postage Stamps of the United States says on 
this subject: 

" A short notice published in one of the Springfield, Mass., papers, in the summer of 
1874, asserts that in overhauling the vaults of the Berkshire Mutual Fire Insurance Com- 
pany of Pittsfield, a number of stamps were found that were issued by the Pittsfield post- 
master, in 1846-47. Phineas Allen was postmaster of Pittsfield at the time. No further 
information concerning these stamps has rewarded inquiry." 

At my request Mr. W. C. Stone has very kindly searched the files of 
the various Springfield papers for the summer of 1874, but has failed to find 
the article referred to by Mr. Tiffany. It would appear either that there was a 
mistake in the date given or that the article was in some Pittsfield or Berkshire 
County paper. Mr. Stone, however, found mention of the Insurance Co. 
having moved into new quarters in July 1874, and it is probable that the 
stamps were found at the time of this removal. 

Mr. Stone also sends me the following extract from the American 

Philatelic Magazine for March 1888: 

The Stamps of the Pittsfield Postmaster. 

The first notice that 1 had of the above stamps was in reading Mr. Tiffany's history 
and of course became very interested in them. My search through the back files of local 
news in the Springfield (Mass ) Republican rewarded me with the following : 

"While overhauling the vaults of the Berkshire Mutual Fire Insurance Company, a 
number of stamps were found which were issued by- the postmaster, Mr. Phineas Allen, in 
1846." 

The stamps spoken of excited no little curiosity, for the weekly papers of the time 
(1874), reviewed them and the stamps passed through several hands and are still in town. I 
asked an old resident and a newspaper man regarding them and he said he thought the 
design was that of a post rider He has promised me more news later and I hope to be able 
to present an illustration in an early number. 

W. F. JlLLSON. 

Unfortunately no further numbers of the magazine were ever issued 
and a few years ago Mr. Jillson was drowned, thus depriving us of the benefit 
of any additional information he may have acquired. 

Further efforts to secure information about the Pittsfield stamps have 
been unrewarded. 



Historical. 



Providence, R, I. 



Engraving and 
Printing. 



Paper. 





Welcome B. Sayles was appointed postmaster at Providence by Presi- 
dent James K. Polk in 1844. He was reappointed by President Franklin 
Pierce and served ten or twelve years in all. In various philatelic articles 
the postmaster's name has been erroneously given as Welcome P. Sayles and 
H. B. Sayles. 

In 1846, Postmaster Sayles issued postage stamps of five and ten cents 
face value. They were engraved on copper by George W. Babcock and 
printed by Henry A. Hidden & Co. The engraving of the plate has hitherto 
been credited to Henry A. Hidden, though the statement has occasionally 
been questioned. Mr. J. Frank Read of Providence talked with Mr. Babcock 
some years ago about the Providence stamps and learned the facts, as here 
given. From about 1835 to 1865 Mr. Babcock did most of the fine plate 
work and engraving in Providence. Neither Henry A. Hidden nor his 
brother James did engraving of this quality, but they had the largest printing 
establishment in the city, and printed the majority of the bills for the state 
banks and copper and steel plate work for corporations, manufacturers, etc. 

The stamps are printed on hard, yellowish-white, hand-made paper. 
The paper is usually quite thin, but Mr. H. E. Deats has a sheet on decidedly 
thick paper, though of the same quality and making as the ordinary sheets. 
Variation in thickness was not at all unusual in the hand-made papers of fifty 
years ago, the stipulation usually being for a certain weight to the ream, any 
excess or shortage being corrected by the use of sheets purposely made very 
thin or very thick. 

As will be seen from the illustration (Plate B), the plate contained 
twelve stamps, arranged in four rows of three stamps each. The stamp in the 
upper right corner had a face value of ten cents, all the others being of five 
cents. As the stamps were engraved directly on the plate, each differs from 
the others in minor details. BTom rulings on the plate it is evident that the 
original intention was to make it larger, but this was abandoned and only the 
twelve stamps were engraved. 



PROVIDENCE, R. I. 4 1 

For many years the plate was believed to be in the custody of the State 
Treasury or of the Rhode Island Historical Society and statements to this 
effect were repeatedly made in philatelic publications. The incorrectness of Discovery of the 
these statements was shown in September, 1893, by the sale of the plate to the 
Bogert & Durbin Co. by Lycurgus Sayles of Providence. With the plate 
were sold 32 complete sheets, and 61 single copies of the five cent and 18 of 
the ten cent stamps. The price paid has been stated at $2,500 to $3,000. 

Lycurgus Sayles was a nephew of the former postmaster, Welcome B. 
Sayles. After the latter retired from the postmastership he practiced law. 
One day in 1854 he was having a sort of house cleaning in his office, examin- 
ing and destroying many packages of old letters and papers. One package 
he handed to his nephew with the remark: " Here, you had better take this. 
It is some of my old postmaster's stamps, and the plate they were made from." 
Mr. Sayles placed the package in a pigeon hole in the top of an old-fashioned 
desk he was then using, and there it remained until, in 1893, he was shown 
one of the stamps by a Providence collector, and learned that they were of 
value and the plate much desired. Whereupon he searched for and found 
the plate and, as has been stated, subsequently sold it. 

The original printing of the Providence stamps appears to have been 
quite extensive, as, at various times, large numbers of the sheet have been 
held by stamp dealers. But the gradual destruction which is always going on Historical 
among philatelic treasures, has had its effect and to-day the number of sheets 
is comparatively limited. Most of the unused stamps may be traced to one 
source of supply. They came from John Hagen, one of the three letter 
carriers of the city under Postmaster Sayles. 

On this subject Mr. E. B Hanes writes me: "About 1850 the Provi- 
dence post office was removed from Westminster Street to Market Square. At 
that time it required only a very few carriers to serve the city. One of them, 
named John Hagen, whom I afterwards well knew, told me that Mr. Sayles, 
the postmaster, had a very large quantity of the stamps printed, as he had no 
doubt of their general use. There were, at the time of the removal, several 
square packages of full sheets, which the postmaster told Hagan he could 
have. So Hagan carried them home as playthings for his children. I knew 
these young Hagans and was their play-fellow and, before the days of stamp 
collecting, these bundles of Providence stamps were used as foot balls and 
other implements of play." 

Mrs. Hagan afterwards used the majority of these sheets to paper a 
small room in the attic of their house. Such sheets as remained were gradu- 
ally dispersed and, when a demand arose for more, many were removed from 
the attic walls and sold. 

The sheets were orginally gummed with a very thin gum which was 
almost white and quite smooth. It did not extend to the edges of the sheets 
nor discolor the paper. Mr. Deats' sheet on thick paper has this gum. The '""'"• 

sheets without gum which are occasionally seen may probably be assigned to 
those removed from the walls of the Hagan attic. It is said that Fred Hagan, 
son of John Hagan, brought a quantity of these sheets to New York about 
1890 and had them regummed. This gum is yellowish, crackly and full of 



42 PROVIDENCE, R. I. 

spots of thicker gum. It usually does not extend to the edges of the sheet 
and, as a rule, turns the paper quite yellowish. 

Used copies of the five cent stamp are quite rare and, so far as I am 
aware, the ten cents is not known in this condition. It has even been asserted 
(micelle 1 copies, that the Providence stamps were never in use. But cancelled copies on the 
original covers are not unknown and it must be remembered that of the loose 
stamps, which had remained in the postmaster's hands and were sold with 
the plate, there were 61 five cents and 18 ten cents, which would indicate 
that a number of sheets had been cut up, the majority of the five cent stamps 
sold, and the ten cents left on hand. All the used copies which I have seen 
were cancelled by a " v " shaped mark, made with a pen and black ink. The 
covers also bear the dated postmark of the city, the word " paid " and a 
figure "5." All these are hand-stamped in red. The only dates of use of 
which I have a memorandum are August 25th and November 14th, 1846. 

After the purchase of the plate it was carefully cleaned, and the cor- 
rosion removed by Livermore & Knight, of Providence, and proofs on thick 
card board struck from it, in blue, red, green, brown and black. 

As soon as it was known that the plate of the Providence stamps had 
passed into the hands of dealers the possibility of reprinting became a subject 
Reprints. of discussion. In spite of the fact that the owners claimed that no re- 

impressions had been made, beyond the proofs just mentioned, there were 
persistent, though unconfirmed, rumors of reprints. Probably many of the 
assertions were founded on the report that, about the time the plate was sold, 
diligent search was made, in and near Providence, for old hand-made paper, 
such as was used for state bank bills and similar securities. This paper was 
identical with that on which the Providence stamps were printed. Small 
quantities of it were known to be held by individuals and old firms and sales 
of it were said to have been made. 

It was not until 1898 that the existence of the reprints was finally 
admitted. We now know that there were two reprintings. The first was 
probably made soon after the purchase of the plate and is on the old paper 
just referred to. There are three varieties of this paper. The first is thick 
hard and white. The second is also thick and hard but it is of a yellowish 
tone and coarser quality. The third is thin and soft and has rose colored 
fibres in its substance. A second and much larger lot of reprints was made in 
1898. Before this reprinting took place the face of the plate was electro- 
plated with steel. These last reprints were made on a thin hard white wove 
paper, apparently hand-made, of close grain and decidedly modern character. 
A single sheet was printed in green. All the reprints are without gum. The 
impression is never as strong as that of the originals and the ink has a grayish 
tint. On the reverse of each sheet is printed in large fancy capitals 



B 


() 


G 


E 


R 


T 


D 


U 


R 


B 


I 


N 



These letters are in a gold-bronze ink which is said to be indelible and 
they are so arranged that one letter falls on the back of each stamp. It is 



PROVIDENCE, R. I. 



43 



much to be regretted that there was not placed on the face of each stamp on 
the plate some small dot or mark by which the true character of the reprints 
would always be readily apparent. It is yet more regrettable that they were 
ever made at all. 



ADHESIVE STAMPS. 

Imperforate. 

Yellowish White Wove Paper, 

5 cents black, gray-black. 1 1 varieties 
10 cents black, gray-black 

RK PRINTS. 

Thick Hard White Paper. 
1 1 varieties 



1846. 



1893. 



5 cents gray-black 
10 cents gray-black 

Thick Hard Yellowish White Paper. 

5 cents gray-black. 11 varieties 
to cents gray-black 

Thin Soft White Paper with Colored Fibres. 

5 cents gray-black. 1 1 varieties 
10 cents gray-black 

Thin Hard White Paper. 

1898. 5 cents gray-black. 11 varieties 

10 cents gray-black 
5 cents green. 1 1 varieties 
10 cents green 

There are a number of counterfeits of these stamps. Many of them 
come to us from Europe but the most dangerous were made in this country. 
Concerning these counterfeits Mr. C. W. Bowen, to whom I am indebted for 
much valuable information about the Providence stamps, writes me: "About 
forty years ago (the exact date cannot be given) Mr. C. A. Pabodie of this 
city was asked by some one — he cannot now remember who — to make an 
engraving similar to that from which two stamps, which the applicant gave 
him, were printed. 'This he did. 'The party took the plate and the only 
record remaining in the hands of Mr. P. is a proof which was made before 
the plate was delivered." 

Mr. Pabodie was a member of the firm of Pabodie & Thompson. The 
proof shows that the counterfeit die — for such it was, rather than a plate — 
was made in imitation of the first and second stamps in the right hand 
vertical row of the original plate. This die was undoubtedly made for George 
A. Hussey, who had at least two lithographic stones made by transfers from 
it. One stone bore one hundred reproductions of the five cents, arranged in 
ten rows of ten. The other bore ninety reproductions, in ten rows of nine. 
The transfers on the second stone were equally divided between the five and 



Reference List. 



(nnnterfeits. 



44 PROVIDENCE, R. I. 

ten cents, but they were arranged without any regularity and one of ten cents 
was placed tete beche. Some of these counterfeits were printed on a thin 
yellowish white paper, quite like that of the originals. There were also im- 
pressions on a variety of colored and fancy papers. These and much other 
trash were printed for Hussey by Thomas Wood, 2^ Murray Street, New 
York. 

The counterfeits are not such as need deceive any one at all careful or 
who compares them with a reproduction of an original sheet. The originals 
measure 28x20mm., the counterfeits are usually a trifle larger or smaller, 
according to the paper on which they are printed. 



St. Louis, Mo. 











The St. Louis stamps were issued in November, 1845 by J°' in M- 

Wimer, who received his appointment as postmaster in that year. His name 

has been given by various writers as Hymer and Wymer, but Wimer is correct. 

The exact date of issue of the stamps is not known but it was probably about 

November 1st, as the Missouri Republican of the 5th published the following 

notice: 

Letter Stamps. — Mr. Wimer, the postmaster, has prepared a set of letter stamps, or 
rather marks, to be put upon letters, indicating that the postage has been paid. In this he 
has copied after the plan adopted by the postmaster of New York and other cities. These 
stamps are engraved to represent the Missouri Coat of Arms, and are five and ten cents. 
They are so prepared that they may be stuck upon a letter like a wafer and will prove a great 
convenience to merchants and all those having many letters to send post paid, as it saves 
all trouble of paying at the post-office. They will be sold as they are sold in the East, viz : 
sixteen five-cent stamps and eight ten-cent stamps for a dollar. We would recommend 
merchants and others to give them a trial. 



Date of Issue. 



46 



ST. LOUIS, MO. 



Kugraviug ami 
Arrangement. 



Varieties. 



On November 13th, 1845, the same paper published a second notice, as 

follows: 

Post-Office Stamps. — Mr. Wimer, the postmaster, requests us to say that he will 
furnish nine ten-cent stamps and eighteen five-cent stamps for one dollar, the difference 
being required to pay for the printing of the stamps. 

In the collection of Mr H. E. Deats is a copy of the ten cent stamp, 
cancelled Nov. 20th, 1845. This is the earliest cancellation known on any 
of these stamps. 

The stamps were engraved on copper by J. M. Kershaw, at that date 
the leading engraver in St. Louis and proprietor of the Western Card and 
Seal Engraving Establishment. The designs, adapted from the arms of the 
State of Missouri, were engraved on a small thin copper plate, such as was 
used for visiting cards. The designs were arranged in two vertical rows, three 
five cents in the left row and three ten cents in the right. They vary slightly 
in size, measuring 17^ to 18^x22 to 22^mm. Being separately engraved, 
each differs in minor details from the others. The varieties of the five cents 
may be readily distinguished by the ornaments in the upper corners or the 
position of the bears relative to the vertical frame lines. In type I, the 
haunches of both bears touch the frame lines. In type II, the bear at the 
right touches the frame but that at the left is about ^mm. from it. And in 
type III, neither bear touches the frame. The most readily noted marks on 
the ten cents are the curved dashes below the words " post office." On 
type I there are three dashes below the words, on type II three pairs of dashes 
and on type III similar pairs of dashes with rows of dots between them. The 
first arrangement of the types is usually called plate I, though more properly 
it is the first state of the plate, as only one plate was ever used. 

It may be well to remark here that until 1895 the correct arrangement 
of the types on the plate was not known. With the limited material at com- 
mand previous to that date, philatelists had attempted to restore the arrange- 
ment and, under the circumstances, had succeeded very well, since only 
types I and III of the five cents were transposed. In nearly all the articles 
on the St. Louis stamps, written previous to 1895, the types of the five cents 
which we now call I, II and III were called C. B. and A. The types of the 
ten cents were correctly arranged. 

The majority of the St. Louis stamps appear to have been used by two 
large firms of that city or by people connected with them. These firms were 
Crow & McCreery, wholesale dry goods merchants, and William Nisbet & Co., 
bankers. When these stamps were in use the great trade and mail route 
between the cities of the eastern coast and New Orleans was via the Ohio and 
Mississippi rivers. Louisville, Ky., was an important point on this route and 
was connected with St. Louis by a line of fast steamers. 

The two firms above mentioned were in the habit of sending to their 
correspondents in Louisville bulky letters, containing drafts, other letters to 
be forwarded, etc. On these heavy letters the postage was, of course, large. 
In the celebrated find of St. Louis stamps, which was made in Louis- 
ville in the summer of 1895, were many covers bearing stamps representing 
postage from twenty-five to fifty cents. We may infer that the desirability 



ST. LOUIS, MO. 



47 



of stamps of higher face value than ten cents was early apparent. The sim- 
plest and least expensive way of providing such stamps was by altering the 
existing plate. Accordingly two of the five cent stamps, types I and II, 
were changed to twenty cents. The stamps furnish evidence that this was 
accomplished in the customary way, i. <?., by placing the plate face down- 
ward on a hard surface and hammering on the reverse of the parts to be 
altered until the face was driven flush at those points. The new numerals 
were then engraved and any damage to the surrounding parts repaired. 
Evidence of damage in this driving up of the surface is seen in the broken 
frame lines above the numerals on the twenty cent stamps and in the missing 
paw of the right-hand bear on type II of that value. The latter stamp also 
shows a good example of retouching in the dashes under " Saint " and 
" Louis." Being altered from types I and II of the five cents, the character- 
istic marks of those types will serve to distinguish the twenty cent stamps. 
This altered or second state of the plate is usually referred to as plate II. 

Apparently it was soon found that the demand for the twenty cent 
stamps was not as great as had been anticipated, while, on the other hand, 
the number of five cent stamps supplied by printings from the altered plate 
was disproportionate and insufficient, in view of the number required for 
ordinary letters. So the plate was again changed, the numerals on the twenty 
cent stamps being erased and fives engraved in their place. These new 
numerals differ somewhat from those which originally occupied the position. 
In type I re-engraved the " 5 " is fully twice as far from the top frame line as 
in the original state. It is correspondingly nearer the garter surrounding the 
arms. In the first state several fine shading lines pass between the lower part 
of the " 5 " and the garter but in the re-engraved stamp the heavy shading of 
the numeral almost touches the garter. In the re-engraved stamp the four 
dashes under " Saint " and " Louis " have disappeared, except about one-half 
of the upper dash under each word. In type II re-engraved the ornament 
in the flag of the " 5 " is a diamond instead of a triangle, the diamond in the 
bow is much longer than in the first state, and the ball of the numeral, 
originally blank, now contains a large dot. At the right of the shading of 
the " 5 " is a short curved line, which is evidently a remnant of the " o " of 
" 20 ". The paw of the bear on the right, which was obliterated in making 
the first alteration, has now been restored. It is heavily outlined but only 
lightly shaded. 

There are many other points of difference between the re-engraved 
types and the originals but those I have indicated are the most prominent 
and will suffice to distinguish them. 

At the time of the second alteration of the plate type III of the five 
cents was slightly retouched. Evidence of this retouching is most easily 
found in the ball of the " 5 ", which now contains a large dot in place of the 
almost imperceptible one in the early state of the type. 

The third and last state of the plate is commonly called plate III. 

The first printing consisted of 500 impressions on greenish-gray wove 
paper. This printing was, of course, from the plate in its original state. The 
second printing took place early in 1846. Stamps from this printing are 



Alterations of the 
Stamps. 



Retouch of five 
cents. 



Printing ami 
Paper. 



4 8 



ST. LOUIS, MO. 



Remainders and 
Plate. 



Reference List. 



Historical. 



known cancelled in March of that year. Again 500 impressions were printed, 
this time from the plate in the second state and on paper of two colors, 
greenish-gray and lilac-gray. Probably only a small quantity of paper of the 
first color was used, as only two copies of the twenty cent stamps are known 
on that paper. The third printing, made from the plate in the third state, is 
believed to have taken place in January, 1847. The earliest cancellation 
known on stamps of this printing is Feb. 5th, 1847. For this printing an 
almost pelure paper, very hard and transparent, was used. The color is a 
cold gray. The extreme scarcity of stamps on this paper would indicate that 
but few of them were used, though it is believed that, as on previous occasions, 
500 sheets were printed. 

What became of the remainder of the last printing, of the probable 
remainder of twenty cent stamps from the previous printing, and of the plate, 
are unsettled questions. They may have been destroyed when the Govern- 
ment issue of 1847 appeared or when the post-office building was demolished. 
The household effects of Mr. Wimer were lost by the sinking of a steamboat 
on the Mississippi river, during the war, and may have included the plate and 
remainders. Lastly, they may have been among his private papers, which 
were siezed by the Government, in 1865, at the time of his arrest as a suspected 
Confederate. Whatever their fate, there seems to be little doubt that thev no 
longer exist. 

ADHESIVE STAMPS. 

Imperforate. 
Greenish Wove Paper. 

Nov., 1845. 5 (cents) black, 3 varieties 

10 (cents) black, 3 " 
1846. 20 (cents) black, 2 " 

Lilac-Gray Wove Paper. 

1846. 5 (cents) black, 1 variety 
10 (cents) black, 3 varieties 
20 (cents) black, 2 

Gray Pelure Paper. 

1847. 5 (cents) black, 3 varieties 
10 (cents) black, 3 " 

Probably no stamps have provoked more discussion and articles in the 
philatelic magazines than those of St. Louis. For many years philatelists 
were of divided opinion regarding the twenty cent stamps — the majority hold- 
ing that they were frauds — and their genuineness was not established to the 
satisfaction of all until the Louisville find. 

The first mention of a St. Louis stamp is found in the Stamp Collectors' 
Magazine for November, 1863. In "Addenda to Mount Brown's Catalogue 
of Postage Stamps," under the head of " United States of America " and the 
subhead " Labels of Private Offices," we find this brief record : 

"Saint Louis Post-Office (device supported by bears), black, imp., 
rect, 10c." 



ST. LOUTS, MO. 49 

This description, together with an equally brief description of the New 
York and Providence stamps, is repeated in the number for the following 
month, in an article on "United States Local Postage Stamps." 

The author of the- article expresses the opinion that the stamps of the 
three cities are not private locals but issues by the Government postmasters 
in anticipation of the regular issues of the Post Office Department. He calls 
attention to their bearing the names of the cities and the words " Post Office " 
(which private individuals would scarcely dare usurp), to their values, which 
were too high for local letters but correct for the Government rates under and 
over 3,000 miles, and to their superiority in workmanship to the local stamps. 

The stamp referred to in these two articles was the 10c, type II. 

The five cents was first known to collectors in Europe in June, 1864, 
as may be seen by referring to the Stamp Collectors" Magazine for 1870, page 
29. This was type III. This value was first mentioned in print in 1865, in 
Kit tie's Manual. 

A second variety of the ten cents (type I), was discovered by Mr. L. 
W. Durbin and reported in the American Journal of Philately for April, 1869. 
In September of the same year Mr. E. L. Pemberton described type II of the 
five cents in The Philatelist. 

In an article in the American Journal of Philately for January, 1870, 
Mr. J. W. Scott described, for the first time, type I of the five cents, type III 
of the ten cents and the two types of the twenty cents, noting the fact that 
they were altered from types of the five cents. 

During this time the leading philatelists of the day had been carrying on 
in the magazines an animated discussion on the question of the genuineness 
of the stamps. The announcement of the twenty cent value gave new vigor 
to the contest. 

In the Stamp Collectors Magazine for January, 187 r, Mr. E. L. Pem- 
berton described an investigation he had made of the St. Louis stamps. He 
began his study with a very unfavorable opinion of the twenty cents and of Hemarkable stud? 
certain of the papers. But — having gotten together thirteen five cents, twelve b > v - L * Peni " 
ten cents and the three copies of the twenty cents then known — he, after care- 
ful study, announced his unqualified belief in their genuineness. In view of 
the comparatively limited number of specimens at his command, the accuracy 
of Mr. Pemberton's conclusions is remarkable. He placed the shades of the 
paper in their correct order of issue, described accurately the three states of 
the plate, the retouching of type I II of the five cents, there-engraving of type 
II of that value and expressed his belief in the existence of a similar re- 
engraving of type I, though he had not found a copy of the stamp. In fact, 
fully twenty-four years before we were ready to accept the information, he 
told us nearly all of the technical details which we know to-day. We have 
only been able to add the description of type I re-engraved and to correct the 
positions of types I and II, which he had transposed, a mistake most pardon- 
able when we remember that at that time only one pair of these stamps was 
known and he had not the advantage of seeing it. 

In spite of the ability of this article and the high repute of its 
author, the leading philatelists declined to accept the twenty cent stamps 



5° 



ST. LOUIS, MO. 



as genuine and paid no attention to the retouched and re-engraved fives. 

In the fall of 1894, Mr. John K. Tiffany made an exhaustive study of 
the St. Louis stamps and published his conclusions in the Philatelic Journal 
of America for December of that year. He, like Mr. Pemberton, began in 
doubt and ended in belief. In this article the re-engraving of type I of the 
five cents is described for the first time. 

But the great find of St. Louis stamps, made in the summer of 1895, 

was more convincing than any theories or arguments and served to put at 

The great timi at rest any lingering doubts as to their genuineness. In this find were included 

Louisville. a srr jp f f- wo twenties and a five cents, strips of three of both the five and 

ten cents, horizontal pairs of five and ten, twenty and ten, etc., etc.; thus 

locating positively the varieties in the several states of the plate. 

Previous to 1869 very few copies of the St. Louis stamps were known, 
probably not more than twenty. In that year Mr. J. W. Scott purchased a 
Approximate umn- lot consisting of about 50 five cents, 100 ten cents and 3 twenty cents. A 
ber in existence. f ew y ears ] a ter about 20 five and ten cents (including a pair of the former 
value) came from the banking house of Messrs. Riggs at Washington. About 
1889 Mr. G. B. Caiman purchased from the firm of J. & J. Stuart & Co., of 
New York some 25 specimens of the five and ten cents, most of which were 
on the pelure paper. A few odd copies had also been discovered in various 
places including a fourth copy of the twenty cents. Last of all came the 
Louisville find consisting of 75 five cents, 46 ten cents and 16 twenty cents. 
This enumeration enables us to approximate the number of St. Louis stamps 
in existence. 

I have seen two counterfeits of the five cent St. Louis stamps which 
might readily deceive anyone who did not take the trouble to compare them 
Counterfeits. with copies known to be genuine or with photographs. Both are in imitation 
of type III and printed on a paper which reproduces fairly well the greenish- 
gray of that used for the originals. 

The more dangerous of the counterfeits may be distingushed by the 
following points : There are three dots instead of four above the diamond 
in the bow of the numeral "5." The curved line following the outline of 
the numeral does not extend far enough to the left at the bottom. The let- 
tering on the garter and the scroll below the bear is too well done, note 
especially the "e" of "we". The first curved line below the lettered 
scroll terminates on the right between the " 1 " and "c " of "office." On 
the originals this line stops over the " 1." Also on the originals there is 
a mark, caused by a slip of the engravers tool, at the left of the upper curve 
of the "s" of "post" and a similar mark crossing the inner frame line 
above and to the left of the "s" of "saint." There are no such marks 
on the counterfeit. 

In March 1868 the Stamp Collectors' Magazine published illustrations 
of the five cents (type III) and ten cents (type II). The second of the two 
counterfeits is made either from a careful reproduction of the illustration 
in that magazine or from the cut itself. The following marks will serve to 
distinguish this counterfeit : There is a heavy shading at the right of the 
numeral " 5." The four dashes below " saint " and " LOUis " are much too 



ST. LOUIS, MO. 51 

long, especially the lower three, which are little more than dots in the originals. 
Immediately above " louis" in the originals is a long curved line, which is 
missing in the counterfeit. On the latter also the first curved line below the 
scroll on which the bears stand is much too long, beginning between the "o" 
and "s" of "post" and ending between the "1" and " c " of "office," while 
on the originals it begins between the "s" and "t" and ends over the " 1." 

I anticipate that the companion illustration in the Stamp Collectors' 
Magazine, has been used to produce counterfeits of the ten cents hut T have 
not seen them. 

The pretended two-cent St. Louis stamp, which we occasionally find 
in old collections, is of quite a different design from that of the regular values Two-cent Stamp. 
and is entirely fraudulent. 



Washington, D. C. 



Historical. 




Col. Charles K. Gardiner, postmaster at Washington from March 31st, 
Date »f issue. ^45 to June 30th, 1849, issued stamped envelopes of five and ten cents face 
value, but unfortunately, no copies have been preserved. 

The New York Express for July 8th, 1845, in an article on the en- 
velopes issued by the New York Postmaster, says: "The plan, we hear, has also 
been adopted by the Postmaster at Washington, D. C, and has met the 
approval of the Postmaster-General." 

Mr. C. F. Rothfuchs found in the daily papers of Washington, pub- 
lished on the 23rd and 25th of July, 1845, the following: 

Interesting to Citizen and Sojourners in Washington — Upon inquiry at the city 
post office, we learn that Col. Gardiner has had franked (or rather prepaid) envelopes pre- 
pared, which do away with the necessity of personal application at the delivery window 
when one wishes to pay postage on sending off a letter. They are for sale at the post office 
at the following rates; which barely pay the cost, after deducting the sum chargeable on 
each for postage, viz : 

18 envelopes to enclose letters charged at 5 cents for $1.00 

9 " " " .50 

1 " " " " " .06X 

9 " " " 10 cents 1.00 

4 " " « «' ,0 " J 

1 " " " " 5 " S 



.50 



This plan, it will be recollected, lias been adopted in the northern cities, to the great 
advantage of the public, and its introduction here will save our fellow citizens many a long 
and hitherto indispensable trudge, in this metropolis of magnificent distances. 

In reply to a request for further information Mr. Rothfuchs writes me: 
"On the Washington, D. C, Postmaster's stamp I have spent con- 
siderable time without success, not even locating one. I have interviewed 
many of the old residents but could not find any one who remembered it. I 
finally discovered the man who carried the mail between Washington and 
Alexandria, Va., during the time the stamp was in use. He said that he 



WASHINGTON, B. C. 53 

remembered it ; that it was an envelope with printing at one corner. And he 

made a draft like this" (see cut at head of this chapter) "which he said was Design. 

the design. He did not remember if Col. Gardiner's signature was on it or 

not. So far none have been located to my knowledge and the design above 

is the only information I have received." 

From the shape of the design it would appear a reasonable inference 
that the name of the city and the value were placed between the curved lines 
and the signature of the postmaster in the center. 

ENVELOPES. Kefereuce List. 

July, 1845. 5 cents — on — 

10 cents on 



Worcester, Mass. 



Again we are confronted by the fact that stamps were prepared and 
sold by the postmaster of a city but that none, so far as we know, are now in 
existence. 

Maturin L. Fisher, was postmaster at Worcester from 1839 to I &49- 
Our information concerning the stamps is largely supplied by the 
Historical. following paragraph in the National Aegis, published in Worcester, September 
2nd, 1846 : 

Post Office Stamps. — The postmaster lias issued postage stamps of the denomination 
of five and ten cents. They are very convenient, and will save the trouble of making 
change at the post office, and will enable people to send prepaid letters at times when the 
office is closed. To cover the expense of engraving and printing, these stamps are sold at 
five percent, advance upon the regular rates of postage. 

Postmaster Fisher and the clerks connected with the post office at that 
period, as well as most of the older inhabitants, are now dead. Though 
friends have, at my request, made personal efforts and enlisted the public 
press, they have been unable to obtain any further information. 

Keference List. ADHESIVE STAMPS. 

1846. 5 cents 

10 cents 



Madison, Fla, 




The so-called Madison stamp has been catalogued as a provisional 
issue of the Confederate States. If it were a stamp at all, it would belong 
among the United States postmaster's stamps, since it was issued by a post- 
master holding office under the government of the United States and not 
under the Confederacy. While I do not regard it as being anything more than 
a label, I deem it appropriate to refer briefly to it here. 

The stamp (for convenience we will call it by that name) was first 
mentioned in the American Journal of Philately for March 1872. It is 
there illustrated, from the copy in the Philbrick collection, and described as Historical. 
type set, printed in gold bronze on blue wove foolscap paper, and having the 
value spelled " cnets " instead of "cents." The article embodies the fol- 
lowing letter from the former postmaster of Madison : 

"Sir: — Your letter of May 20th has been received. 1 regret not having any stamp 
used by me while postmaster at Madison during the existence of the Confederacy. 1 can, 
however, give you, I think, a pretty correct idea of their appearance, as represented in the 
following figure, which is about the size and shape. Having a printing press at command, 
stamped the foregoing figure, and before the ink became dry, sprinkled yellow bronze on it, 
which gave the stars and border the appearance of gold. Ordinary foolscap paper was used. 
All the fractional currency in circulation disappeared about that time, and it was difficult to 
make change ; indeed almost impossible to conduct the post office, having no United States 
postage stamps, as my supply was exhausted soon after the assemblage of the Confederate 
Congress at Montgomery, Ala., and under whose authority 1 was instructed to conduct the 
offices, under the rules of the United States government, and pay over all moneys due to 
that Government, until I would be commissioned postmaster under the Confederate States, 
if I saw proper to accept it. which would happen soon ; and believing my allegiance due to 
the Confederacy, I was loth to apply for stamps to the United States, and determined to 
mail letters paid in money only. Therefore the stamps were issued by me for the purpose 
of making change, and sold in quantities to suit the business part of the community, so that 
any letter found in the letter-box with my stamp on it had evidence of having been paid 
for, and was accordingly stamped ' Paid in Money,' in accordance with the laws regulating 
the United States post offices, and charged in the way-bills as paid in money forwarded to 
the distributing offices, and every cent due to the United States was paid in money on ac- 
count of the mails by me. The stamps were never credited beyond the reach of the post- 
offices at Madison, and was never intended but for the convenience of the immediate com- 
munity No postmaster was silly enough to mail a letter because it had my stamp upon it. 
I, however, sometimes neglected to pull off the stamp before mailing them, and some of 
them went through without being removed, although they had plainly stamped on them 
' Paid,' and so charged against me in the way-bills; still considerable excitement was 



56 MADISON, FLA. 

caused ill the northern cities by their accidental appearance, although no word nor figure 
was upon the stamp, and after the words ' Paid in Money.' had no more meaning than if I 
had drawn the figure of a Jackass on one corner of the letter. Still the keen perceptions 
of James Gordon Bennett of the New York Herald found an immense and ingenious fraud 
practiced upon the Government by the postmaster at Madison, and called hastily for justice 
to be visited upon the moral deformity of the offending postmaster at Madison ; his ex- 
quisite sense of purity could not conceive how a sense of duty on the part of the officers of 
the distributing office could allow the offence of the postmaster at Madison to go unnoticed. 
He devoted nearly a column of the Herald to the subject, and I found myself suddenly 
famous through the Herald's cleverness in discovering villany. Shortly after the Herald's 
attention, an agent of the Government was sent especially to investigate the fraud ; but he 
was a sensible gentleman, and was immediately convinced that no wrong was intended, 
and so reported to his Government. 

" I had, moreover, many applications from persons in New York, Boston and Phila- 
delphia to purchase stamps; one was collecting the various stamps of the world, and was 
exceedingly desirous of adding my postal stamp to the list; others felt much curiosity in 
seeing the postal stamp of which so much had been said; would 1 not sell a few ? 

" You may imagine how much 1 was astonished at the sudden interest in my stamps, 
when I never dreamed of their being known beyond the immediate neighborhood of my 
post office. These last, though, were never gratified, and they had to be content with the 
Herald's discoveries, 1 was continued, without further complaint, until commissioned by 
the Confederate States, when I made the proper returns and paid up all dues in money. If 
the foregoing is of service to you, 1 shall be pleased. 

Very respectfully, &c. , 

"S. J. Perry." 
"Mr. J. W. Scott." 

The article from the Herald is also reprinted, in conjunction with Mr. 
Perry's letter, and is a very mild affair to have so aroused his wrath. That 
article gave a sketch and description of the stamp and said it was " printed in 
gold on a white ground." The only point of interest to philatelists is the 
statement that the envelope which the writer had before him had been marked 
" Due 3 " by the New York Post Office, showing that the stamp was not 
recognized by the postal authorities of that city. 

I think Mr. Perry's letter fully establishes the status of this label. It 
was not issued as a stamp and no effort was ever made to have it do duty as 
status of the such. It is on a par with the cards issued by Postmaster Riddell of New' 
Label. Orleans, inscribed with various values and " Receivable in payment of postage, 

and redeemable at the New Orleans Post Office." In this connection we 
must not forget the numerous " tokens " marked " Good for one cent " etc., 
issued by business houses, at the time of the cival war, to supply the want of 
fractional currency. 



Government Issues, 



The development of the Post Office Department has been retarded by 
many causes, more especially in the early and middle parts of our compara- 
tively brief national life. Among the causes may be mentioned : Excessive 
rates of postage, the competition of express and local delivery companies, 
abuse of the franking privilege, the fact that prepayment of postage was not 
compulsory, and the lack of adhesive stamps. 

As was shown on page 6, the Act of Congress, approved March 3rd, 
1845, greatly reduced the rates of postage and made them uniform throughout 
the country. Since that time, there have twice been advances in the rates, Kates of postage. 
once for letters to be transported for distances greater than 3,000 miles, and 
once for drop letters ; but, on the whole, there has been a steady and con- 
sistent decrease in the postal charges. It should be remembered that the 
extremely low rates granted to newspapers, magazines and similar publications 
have, particularly in recent years, vastly increased both labor and expenditure 
in the Post Office Department. It is probable that this, more than any other 
cause, is responsible for this branch of the Government not being self- 
supporting. But these forms of literature have always been regarded as such 
great and valuable educators, that their encouragement has been held superior 
to any considerations of economy. 

The competition of private carriers was for many years the occasion 
of great loss to the postal revenue. This competition decreased with the Private competi- 
introduction of lower rates of postage and, in 1861, its entire discontinuance 
was enforced through the courts. 

The franking privilege, which has at times been granted recklessly and 
used to an excessive degree, is now much restricted, though it still imposes a Franking. 

great burden on the postal service. 

The lack of a law compelling the prepayment of postage caused heavy 
losses to the department. A paragraph in the report of the Postmaster- Prepayment of 
General, dated December 2nd, 1848, gives us some useful information on this 
subject as follows : 

" Whether the suggestions lor the modification of the Act of 1845 be adopted or not, 
all matter sent in the mails should be prepaid. This might indemnify the department for 
the great loss sustained for the transmission of letters not taken from the office. Nearly two 
millions of dead letters are annually returned to the department, upon which it not only 
loses the postage, but pays two cents each for advertising ; and this is in addition to the 
expense incurred in opening and returning those of value to the writers, and destroying those 
of no value. Newspapers, periodicals, pamphlets, and essays of various kinds, probably not 



postage. 



58 GOVERNMENT ISSUES. 

less in number than the deaf! letters, are sent to the offices and never called for, or if called 
for refused, and remain as dead matter in them. From a careful examination it has been 
ascertained that =12,000 annually are received and remain as dead matter in the office at New 
York ; at Boston and Baltimore about 10,000 annually ; and at Philadelphia about 2,600." 

A step in the right direction was made in the Act of Congress, approved 
March 3rd, 1851, by which the ordinary rate of postage was made three cents 
if prepaid and five cents if not prepaid, but it was not until 1855 that pre- 
payment was made compulsory. 

One of the great hindrances to the advancement of the postal service 
was the want of adhesive stamps. It was well-known that postage stamps 
status of I'ostmas- had been successfully introduced by the postmasters of New York and other 
cities. These stamps were appreciated by the public, but, at the same time, 
they were not regarded with the confidence which would have been evoked 
by a Government issue. They represented only an implied contract between 
the postmaster who issued them, and the public. There was a possibility of 
great abuse in such a condition of affairs. There was nothing to prevent 
every postmaster in the country making and selling his own stamps. Not 
only might the stamps be used as a source of individual revenue on the part 
of a postmaster but, in case of his death, default, or the succession of another 
to the office, they would probably be repudiated and a heavy loss be sustained 
by the holders. The necessity for governmental control of postage stamps 
was as evident as was the imperative demand of -the public for their issue. 



tors' stamps. 



/ 



Issue of 1847. 



Although it would seem that the need of improvements in the postal 
service, especially the introduction of postage stamps, must have long been 
apparent to the most casual observer, it was not until 1847 that Congress took 
action to provide them. 

The first issue of postage stamps by the Government was authorized 
by the Act, approved March 3rd, 1847, which provided as follows : 

And be it further enacted, that to facilitate the transportation of letters by mail, the 
Postmaster-General be authorized to prepare postage stamps, which, when attached to any 
letter or packet, shall be evidence of prepayment of the postage chargeable on such letter, r j rs t stamps 
which said stamps the Postmaster-General may deliver to any deputy postmaster who may authorized. 

apply for the same, the deputy postmaster paying or becoming accountable for the amount 
of the stamps so received by him, and if any of said stamps shall not be used, but be return- 
ed to the General Post Office, the amount so returned shall be credited to such deputy post- 
master. A n d such deputy postmaster may sell or dispose of any stamps so received by him 
to any person who may wish to use the same, but it shall not be lawful for any deputy post- 
master to prepare, use, or dispose of any postage stamps not authorized by and received from 
the Postmaster-General. And any person who shall falsely and fraudulently make, alter or 
forge any postage stamp with intent to defraud the Post Office Department, shall be deemed 
guilty of felony and, on conviction, shall be subject to the same punishment as provided in 
the 21st Section of the Act approved March ^rd, 1825, etc. 

This Act was to take effect July 1st, 1847, from which date the use of 
the postmasters' stamps or any which were not authorized by the Postmaster- 
General became illegal. It will be observed that the Act made no provision 
for the compulsory prepayment of postage. 

As provided by law, a contract was made by the Postmaster-General 
■ with Messrs. Rawdon, Wright, Hatch <S; Edson of New York, for engraving contractors, 
and printing the stamps for a period of four years. 

In order that certain varieties, which will be described in the succeed- Manufacture of 
ing issues, may be better understood, it seems desirable to give here a brief s ai " l> v a es ' 
description of the manufacture of plates for stamps. 

The first step is making the die. This is usually engraved on a piece 
of soft steel a little larger than the design. As a rule, only one design is i»ie. 

engraved on such a block. But there are exceptions. The dies for the so- 
called government counterfeits of the 1847 issue are placed side by side on 
the same block. The die being engraved, it is hardened by heating it in a 
bath of cyanide of potassium and then dipping it in cold oil. 

The next step is making the transfer roll. Its name indicates its pur- 
pose, to transfer the design from the die to the plate. This roll is of soft Transfer roll, 
steel, in shape like a small grindstone, A stamp roll is usually about four 



6o 



ISSUE OF 1847. 



Double transfers 
or shifts. 



inches in diameter, with an edge broad enough to receive the design. The 
roll is placed in the carrier of a transfer press and forced against the die — 
which rests on the bed of the press — with a pressure of many tons, produced 
by compound leverage. With this tremendous pressure resting on it, the bed, 
carrying with it the die, is moved back and forth under the roll until the soft 
steel of the latter is forced into every line of the die, even the faintest scratch 
made by a diamond point. The lines of the die are, of course, reversed on 
the roll and those which were sunken in the former are in relief in the latter. 
A number of transfers are often made on the same roll and occasionally 
transfers of several different stamps. The roll is hardened in the same manner 
as the die. 

The plate, duly ruled into spaces for the stamps, then takes the place 
Plate of the die on the press and, by the same methods used to produce the roll, 

the latter is forced into the plate, reproducing in the minutest details the 
design on the die. This is repeated as many times as there are to be stamps 
on the plate. Guide lines, scratches, etc., are burnished out, the plate is 
hardened and is then ready for the printer. 

In making the plate it sometimes happens that the transfer roll is set 
down upon it, slightly out of the intended position. The pressure on the 
roll forces into the soft plate those lines which are most in relief. When the 
incorrect position of the roll is noticed it is moved to the proper place, and 
the impression is then " rocked " into the plate. As a result of thus twice 
placing the design, some of the lines are duplicated. These are called double 
transfers, shifted transfers and shifts. I shall not attempt to list all the 
varieties which are known, but shall mention a few of the more prominent. 

The stamps of this issue were engraved on steel by Rawdon, Wright, 
Hatch & Kdson. This firm occupied the top floor of the building at the 
corner of William and Wall streets, New York, now the United States Custom 
House. The portraits were originally prepared for use on bank bills, stock 
certificates and other securities and were afterwards adopted for the stamps. 
The designs are thus officially described : 

Five cents. Portrait of Franklin, after painting by John B. Long- 
acre, three-quarters face, looking to the left, on an oval disk with dark ground, 
Designs. white neckerchief and fur < ollar to coat, the whole surrounded with a faintly 

engraved wreath of leaves, on which, in the two upper corners, are the letters 
" u " and " s ", and in each of the two lower corners a large figure " 5 ". In 
a curved line around the upper portion of the medallion are the words "post 
office ", and around the lower part the words " five cents ". A border of 
fine straight lines goes around the entire stamp. Color, light brown. 

Ten cents. Portrait of Washington, from Stuart's painting, three- 
quarters face, looking to the right, on an oval disk with dark ground, white 
neckerchief and black coat, faint wreath of leaves around all, on which, in 
the upper corners, are the letters "u" and " s ", and in each of the lower 
corners a large Roman numeral " x ". In a curved line around the upper 
and lower parts of the medallion, as in the case of the 5 cent stamp, are the 
words " post office " and " ten cents ". Color, black. A border of fine 
Straight lines goes around the whole stamp. 



ISSUE OF 1847. 6l 

The stamps measure i8^x23^mm. 

There were one hundred stamps on each plate, arranged in ten rows 
of ten. Only one plate was made for each value and both were, so far as can Platen. 

be learned, without imprint or plate number. 

The paper varies much in color, the usual range is from gray to dull 
blue, but it is sometimes quite white. The genuineness of the white paper 
has been denied by some writers, but copies of the stamps exist with full Paper. 

original gum and on paper which does not show the faintest trace of blue 
color, but is a distinctly yellowish white. The paper also varies in quality 
from thick and opaque to thin and transparent. Both values are known with 
a species of watermark, a band of short parallel lines, giving the appearance 
of closely laid paper. These lines are produced in the course of manufacturing 
the paper. They are caused by the stitches which join the ends of the cloth 
band on which the paper pulp is led from the vat. Copies also exist on laid 
paper. They are of a high degree of rarity and have only been seen in 
unused condition. 

The gum is yellow or yellow white, usually thin and inclined to 
crackle. This gum was applied by hand by two apprentices of the con- 
tractors, an apprentice engraver and an apprentice printer. Besides their Gum. 
regular duties these men were employed as watchmen. Three nights in each 
week they gummed the sheets of stamps (being paid for work overtime), and 
hung them up about the room to dry. 

The following shades and varieties have been seen : 

Imperforate. Reference Mst. 

Grayish Blue Wove Paper. 

Aug. 5th, 1847. 5 cents pale brown, brown, dark brown, black-brown, 

purple-brown, olive-brown, red-brown, orange- 
brown, red-orange 
10 cents full black, gray-black, greenish black 

-Yellowish White Wove Paper. 

5 cents dark brown 
10 cents full black 

Grayish Pelure Paper. 

5 cents dark brown 
10 cents full black 

Lilac-gray Laid Paper. 

5 cents deep orange-brown 
10 cents gray-black 

Varieties : 

5 cents brown. Horizontal half and another copy, used 
as i}4 cents 



62 



ISSUE OF 1847. 



Methods of distribut- 
ing stamps to Post- 
masters. 



First stumps 
sold. 



10 cents black. Vertical half used as 5 cents. Cancelled: 
"Bradford, Me., Sept. 19, 1849", "New Haven, 
Conn., June 13, 1 85 1 ", etc. 

10 cents black. Diagonal half used as 5 cents. Can- 
celled : "Augusta, Ga., Aug. 18, 1847 "> " Boston, 
Mass., Sept. 28, 1847", "New Haven, Conn., 
June 14, 1 85 1 ", etc. 

10 cents black. Double transfer, particularly noticeable 
in the double outlines of "post office" and the 
letters " u " and " s " in the upper corners. 

The finished sheets were forwarded to the Post Office Department at 
Washington, as was the custom until February, 1855. From February 18th, 
1855, until May 18th, of that year, the experiment was tried of having the 
stamps sent by the contractors direct to the deputy postmasters who applied 
for them. The first Stamp Agent was Jessey Johnson. He was appointed 
May 18th, 1855. The office of the Stamp Agent was located with the con- 
tractors, at that date Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., in the Jayne Build- 
ing, Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Until 1869, the stamps were delivered to 
the Stamp Agent at the place of manufacture and by him forwarded to 
Washington for distribution. After February 1st, 1869, they were forwarded 
by the Stamp Agent, through the registry division of the New York Post 
Office, to the various postmasters on their orders, duly approved by the Post 
Office Department at Washington. Now that the stamps are manufactured 
by the Bureau of Fngraving and Printing the routine is the same but the 
distributing point is, of course, AVashington. 

The Act approved March 3rd, 1847, was to take effect on July 1st of 
that year and it was expected that the stamps would be ready for use on that 
date. But owing to various delays on the part of contractors none of the 
stamps were available for sale until August 5th, 1847. In connection with 
this date we find an interesting anecdote in Tiffany's History of the Postage 
Stamps of the United States, reprinted from the Hartford Times of August 
5th, 1885 : 

" Thirty-eight years ago to-day the first postage stamps were used in the United 
States. * * * On the 25th of March, 1840, John M. Niles of Hartford, became Post- 
master-General and signalized his administration by many reforms. * * * It was 
necessary to cap all by a genuine innovation, and he performed this by suggesting the 
postage stamp. The suggestion was received with ridicule, and Mr. Niles soon after retired. 
* * * When Cave Johnson assumed the post office, on the 5th of March, 184^, he found 
it an Herculean task to re-instate the reform measures of Mr Niles. * * * Among the 
measures of Mr. Niles that he adopted was the postage stamp idea. * * * The matter 
took form as a bill. * * * Approved March 3rd, 1847. The date of the issue was 
appointed as July 1st, but there was a delay in the contractors' work and the time ran over 
a month. 

On the 5th of August, soon after the opening of the Postmaster-General's office for 
the day, an old gentleman called to see Mr. Johnson on business. The gentleman was the 
Hon. Henry Shaw, a New Yorker, * * * and the father of the well-known Henry 
Shaw, Jr. (Josh Billings). * * * Mr. Johnson came into his office accompanied by the 
printer of the new stamps, a few minutes after Mr. Shaw had arrived, on that August 
morning. Sheets of the stamps were laid before the Postmaster-General, who, after receipt- 
ing for them, handed them to his visitor to inspect. Mr. Shaw returned them after a hasty 
glance, and then drawing out his wallet, he counted out fifteen cents, with which he pur- 
chased two of the stamps — the first two ever issued. The five cent stamp he kept as a 
curiosity, and the ten cent stamp he presented to Governor Briggs, as an appropriate gift." 



ISSUE OF 1847. 



>3 



The following orders for stamps were sent to and executed by the 
contractors : 









5 Cents. 


io Cents. 


June 


3> 


1847- 


600,000 


200,000 


Mch. 


15. 


1848. 


800,000 


250,000 


Mch. 


20, 


1849. 


1,000,000 


300,000 


Feb. 


5- 


1850. 


1,000,000 


300,000 


Dec. 


9, 


1850. 
Total, 


1,000,000 
4,400,000 






1,050,000 



Of these quantities 3,712,000 five cent and 891,000 ten cent stamps 
were distributed to postmasters for sale. A small portion were returned to 
the Department after the appearance of the next issue. 

It appears to have been the intention of the Government to prohibit 
any use of the stamps of the 1847 issue after July 1st, 1851, the date fixed for 
the issue of that year. In June, 1851, instructions were issued to deputy stamps declared in- 
postmasters that the five and ten cent stamps then current must not be valil1 for postage, 
recognized as prepaying letters after the 30th of that month. The public 
were requested to return any of the stamps which they held and exchange 
them for the new issue. I have, however, seen a copy of the five cents used 
as late as January 4th, 1858. 

The report of the Postmaster-General, dated November 15th, 1851 (for 
the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1851), says : "Directions for the destruc- 
tion of the dies and plates employed in the manufacture of the postage Destruction of dies 
stamps formerly used, have been given, and for counting and burning such plates and re- 
of the stamps as have not been issued to postmasters or have been returned." 

It has been said that the first contract for the manufacture of stamps 
did not provide, as was done in all subsequent contracts, that the dies and 
plates should be the property of the Government. Consequently they were 
claimed by the contractors. This may explain the anxiety of the Post Office 
Department to secure the return and destruction of the remainders of the 
1847 issue and the forbidding of their future use. That this anxiety was 
groundless is proved by the following affidavit : 

New York, Dec. 12, 1 8s 1 . 
Have this day destroyed dies of 5 and 10 cent stamps, also the plates of same. 
1 5c stamp plate, 100 on, 1847 issue. 
1 10c " " 100 " " " 

Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson. 
Witness : 

Wm. Brady, P. M., N. Y. 

John Moor. 

G. W. Johnson. 

The care taken to destroy the remainders of the 1847 issue doubtless 
accounts for the scarcity of the stamps in unused condition. 

The report of the Postmaster-General, dated December 4th, 1852, says : 
"Stamps in the hands of postmasters, June 30th, 1851, being such as re- stamps unsold, 
mained of the old issue, and which were charged to them on that day 
$8,849.61." 



64 ISSUE OF 1847. 

In the same report under the head of " Expenditures " we find : 
" For postage stamps redeemed, . $3,809.35." 

" For postage stamps of old issue returned 

to the Department, . . 8,229.20." 

Mr. Tiffany, in his History of the Postage Stamps of the United States, 
adds these two amounts together and claims a total of $12,038.55 of the 1847 
issue were returned by the deputy postmasters. This is manifestly incorrect, 
both from the wording of the report, and because more stamps could not be 
returned than were outstanding. The stamps redeemed were probably of the 
1851 issue. 

In the report dated December 1st, 1853, are also given as items of 
expenditure : 

" Stamps returned, old issue, . . $68.05." 

"Stamps on hand, overcharged, old issue, 85.90." 

Presumably the stamps represented by the last item should be deducted 
from the number reported as delivered to postmasters. 

It will be seen from these figures that only a comparatively small 
number of stamps of the 1847 issue were not returned to the Department by 
the deputy postmasters. Many of these were probably used because of 
failure to receive promptly the stamps of the new issue, and some may have 
been used in succeeding years. 

The Act of March 3rd, 185 r, established postal rates of ten and twenty 
cents to foreign countries, but no ten cent stamps were issued until May, 
1855. In spite of instructions to the contrary, we may assume that, during 
this period, the stamps of the 1847 issue were, when obtainable, used to pay 
the foreign rates. 



Issue of 1851-55. 

The report of the Postmaster-General, dated November 29th, 1851, 

says : 

" A contract has been made for the supply of the postage stamps authorized by the act 
of March last. These stamps are believed to be of superior quality, and are furnished at a 
less price than was formerly paid Some of those furnished soon after the execution of the 
contract were found to be deficient in adhesive qualities, but it is believed that there will be 
no ground for future complaint. * * * 

The streets, avenues, roads and public highways of the cities of New York, Boston, 
Philadelphia, and New Orleans have been established as post routes under the 10th section streets of cities 
of the postage act of March 3, 1851, and letter carriers appointed for the service thereon, made post routes. 
If it is the intention of Congress to transfer the whole despatch business of the cities to the 
letter carriers of the department, further legislation for that purpose is desirable " 

The Act referred to in the foregoing was approved March 3rd, 1 85 1 . 

It is entitled " An Act to reduce and modify the Rates of Postage in the 

United States " and provides as follows : 

" Be it enacted, etc., that from and after the 30th day of June, 1851, in lieu of the 
rates of postage now established by law, there shall be charged the following rates, viz : 
For every single letter in manuscript, or paper of any kind, upon which information shall be Act reducing rates 
asked for or communicated, in writing, or by marks or signs, conveyed in the mail for any of postage. 

distance, between places in the United States, not exceeding 3,000 miles, when the postage 
upon said letter shall have been prepaid, three cents, and five cents when the postage there- 
on shall not have been prepaid, and for any distance exceeding 3,000 miles, double these 
rates ; for every such single letter or paper when conveyed wholly or in part by sea, and to 
or from a foreign country, tor any distance over 2,500 miles, twenty cents, and foi any 
distance under 2,500 miles, ten cents, excepting however, all cases where such postages have 
been or shall be adjusted at different rates by postal treaty or convention already concluded 
or hereafter to be made ; and for a double letter there shall be charged double the rates above Special rate for 
specified ; and for a treble letter, treble these rates ; and for a quadruple letter, quadruple prepaid tetters, 
these rates ; and every letter or parcel not exceeding half an ounce in weight, shall be 
deemed a single letter, and every additional weight of half an ounce, or every additional 
weight of less than half an ounce, shall be charged with an additional single postage. And 
all drop letters or letters placed in any post office, not for transmission, but for delivery only, 
shall be charged with postage at the rate of one cent each, and all letters which shall here- 
after be advertised as remaining over or uncalled for in any post office shall be charged with 
one cent in addition to the regular postage, to be accounted for as other postages now are." 

The rates for circulars, handbills, pamphlets, engravings and news- 
papers (excepting those coming from the publishers, on which postage was 
not to be paid by stamps), were " one cent for each ounce or fraction thereof, 
for distances under 500 miles, and an additional rate for each additional 1,000 
lffiles or fraction thereof." 

The Act further specifies that the Postmaster-General shall provide 
" suitable postage stamps of the denomination of three cents, and such other 
denominations as he may think expedient to facilitate prepayment of postages 
provided for in this Act," 



66 issue of 1851-55. 

c . . An official circular, dated Tune 10th, 1851, announced and described 

Stamps announced. J J ' 

the one, three and twelve cent stamps. 
Date .of issue. The stamps were issued July 1st, 1851. 

In September of that year the carriers' stamp with the head of Franklin 
was issued. It was replaced in the following November by the Eagle carriers' 
Carriers' stamps, stamp. These stamps will be referred to more fully in a chapter devoted to 
the carriers' stamps. 

An Act, approved August 30th, 1852, provided as follows : 

" From and after September 30th, 18S2, postage on all printed matter passing by 

Reduction of rates mail, instead of the rates now charged, shall be as follows : Each newspaper, periodical, 

for printed matter, unsealed circular, or other article of printed matter, not exceeding three ounces in weight, 

to any part of the United States, one cent ; and for every additional ounce or fraction 

thereof one cent additional." 

By the Act approved March 30th, 1855, the Act of March 3rd, 1851, 

was amended as follows : 

Be it enacted, etc. That in lieu of the rates of postage now established by law, there 
shall be charged the following rates to wit : For every single letter in manuscript, or paper 
lfates increased, of any kind in which information shall be asked or communicated in writing, or by marks or 
signs, conveyed in the mail, for any distance between places in the United States not exceed- 
ing 3,000 miles, three cents ; and for any distance exceeding 3,000 miles, ten cents. And 
for a double letter, there shall be charged double the .rates above specified ; and for a treble 
letter, treble these rates ; and for a quadruple letter, quadruple these rates ; and every letter 
or paper not exceeding half an ounce in weight shall be deemed a single letter ; and every 
additional weight of half an ounce or every additional weight of less than half an ounce, 
shall be charged with an additional single postage ; and upon all letters passing through or 
in the mail of the United States, except such as are to or from a foreign country, the postage 
as above specified, shall be prepaid, except upon letters and papers addressed to officers of 
the Government on official business, which shall be so marked on the envelope. And from 

Prepayment and after the first day of January, 1856, the Postmaster-General may require postmasters to 

required. place postage stamps upon all prepaid letters, upon which such stamps may not have been 

placed by the writers. * * * 

And be it further enacted : That for the greater security of' valuable letters, posted 
for transmission in the mails of t lie United States, the Postmaster-General be, and hereby is 

Keystation. authorized to establish a uniform plan for the registration of such letters on application of 

parties posting the same, and to require the prepayment of the postage, as well as a registra- 
tion fee of five cents, on every such letter or packet, to be accounted for by postmasters 
receiving the same, in such manner as the Postmaster-General may direct ; Provided, how- 
ever, that such registration shall not be compulsory, and shall not render the Post Office 
Department or its revenues liable for the loss of such letter or package, or the contents 
thereof. 

By this Act compulsory prepayment of postage on letters and a system 
of registration were for the first time provided. 

An Act, approved January 2nd, 1857, extended the compulsory pre- 
payment of postage to all transient printed matter, the postage to be "prepaid 
by stamps or otherwise, as the Postmaster-General may direct." 
Designs and colors. The official description of the designs and colors is as follows : 

One cent. Profile bust of Franklin, looking to the right, on an oval 
disk with dark ground, the words " u. s. postage " in outline capitals on a 
curved panel above, and the words "one cent" in similar letters on a 
curved panel below. On the corners, and partly surrounding the two panels, 
are convolute scroll-work ornaments, nearly meeting in points on the sictes. 
Color, indigo blue. 

Three cents. Profile bust of Washington, after Houdon, facing to 
the left, on an oval disk with very dark ground and a white line border. 
Around this oval is a beautifully tessellated frame, terminating in each of 



ISSUE OF 1851-57. 



67 



the four corners with a fine lathe-work rosette. At the top of the stamp is a 
straight panel, with a piece at each end cut off, bearing the words " u. s. 
postage '•' in white capitals ; at the bottom of the stamp, in a similar panel 
and with similar letters, are inscribed the words "three cents." A fine line 
encloses the stamp, forming a rectangle. Color, brick-red. 

Five cents. Portrait of Jefferson, after a painting by Stuart, three- 
quarters face, looking to the right, on an oval disk with dark ground and a 
distinct white border, on the upper and lower portions of which are four 
irregular, shaded segmental spaces. Around the whole is a four-sided oblong 
frame, with rounded corners terminating in slight incissions, the whole filled 
in with two rows of geometric lathe-work, and bearing in a waved line at the 
top the words "u. s. postage" in white capitals, and at the bottom the words 
"five cents", similarly displayed. Color, brown. 

Ten cents. Portrait of Washington, after the painting by Stuart, 
three-quarters face, looking to the left, on an oval disk with very dark ground, 
and a border which is white below and slightly shaded above. Around the 
upper portion of the medallion, on a dark ground, are thirteen white stars, 
above which again in a white panel are the words, in small solid capitals, 
" u. s. postage," connecting two circular spaces on the corners, each con- 
taining the Roman numeral "X." Below the medallion, in a waved panel, are 
the words " ten cents " in large white capitals. The whole is surrounded 
with shaded scroll-work of a highly ornate character. Color, dark green. 

Twelve cents. Portrait of Washington, after the painting by Stuart, 
three-quarters face, looking to the left, on an oval disk with dark ground and 
a fine shaded line border. Above the medallion and conforming to its curve, 
on a light background, are the words " u. s. postage " in white shaded 
capitals, and below the medallion, similarly inscribed and displayed, are the 
words " twelve cents ". Around the whole, and enclosed in a fine double- 
lined rectangle, is a beautifully tessellated frame, separated at each of the four 
corners by a lathe-work rosette. Color, black." 

The stamps of this issue vary slightly in size. The dimensions are : 
1 cent, 20x26mm.; 3 cents, 20x25mm.; 5 cents, 19^x25^111111.; 10 cents, 
19x24^111111.; 12 cents, 20x25mm. 

There are several types of the one and ten cent stamps. The three 
and five cents have each only one type in this issue, but in the perforated 
issue of 1857 they present other varieties. It seems best to describe the 
various types under the issue in which they make their initial appearance. 



Sizes. 



Tj pes 





One cent. Type I. This is the full and complete form of the stamp 
as it appears on the die. In this form there is a curved line outside and 



68 issue of 1851-57. 

Tjpes of the'one parallel to the labels containing the words "u. s. postage" and "one cent." 
cent stamp. : Between the upper label and the curved outer line is a row of minute colored 
dots. These are not found between the lower label and the outer line. 
Below the lower label and line is a scroll, turned to the right and left, having 
the ends carried under and rolled up until they form little balls. In the 
center the scroll is only a line, forming, with the outer line, a double curve. 
There are graceful arabesques at each corner, spreading along the sides and, 
to a less degree, along the top and bottom. The distinguishing marks of 
this variety, the rolled up ends of the scroll, may be seen to better advantage 
on the reprints and proofs than on the stamps themselves. 

Type II. Is much the same as type I but the balls forming the ends 
of the scrolls and frequently the extreme tips of the arabesques have been 
cut away. 

Type III. This is the so-called " broken circle." In this the center 
of the curved lines is missing and the scrolls and corner ornaments are less 
perfect. This variety may occur at the top or bottom of the stamp or in 
both places. 

Type IV. This is type III with the broken lines recut. This variety 
also may be found at either the top or bottom of the stamp or both. It 
closely resembles type II yet may easily be distinguished from it. The 
curved lines outside the labels are deeper and harder than the other lines of 
the stamp. The recutting often begins and ends abruptly, not joining smoothly 
the original line. The central part of the row of minute dots between the 
upper label and the curved line has disappeared. The recutting is usually 
confined to the outer lines but it can occasionally be seen in other parts of the 
stamp, especially the top of the upper label. 

Of these four varieties only two are properly called types. The other 
two are really sub-varieties, but their frequent occurrence, especially in the 
perforated issue of these stamps, seems to demand for them recognition as 
types. Types I and II come from two different transfer rolls (Nos. 46 and 
47), though both are from the same original die. On the second roll the 
ball-like ornaments were cut away. Type III is caused by not "rocking" 
the transfer roll sufficiently far. Proof of, this is found in a stamp" which 
combines types I and II, showing the broken circle at the top and full 
ornaments at the bottom. Type IV is an attempt to remedy the defects of 
type III. The last two are, therefore, plate varieties and sub-varieties of 
type II. In the 1857 issue, however, the third variety must be accepted as a 
type, as there is abundant evidence to show that, in that issue, it is not due to 
defective workmanship but is made from a transfer roll from which the 
ornaments and lines have been completely cut away. 

In the 1 85 1 issue type IV is the commonest variety, type II is nearly 
as frequently met, type III is quite scarce and type I decidedly so, especially 
in unused condition. In the 1857 issue type III is the common variety, 
while types II, IV and I are much scarcer, in the relative order here given. 

Three cents. Type I. There is a thin, straight line of color on each 

Types of the three of the four s ' des of the stam P- 1° preparing the earlier plates of this value 

cent stamp. the surface of each plate was laid off in little upright rectangles. These were 



ISSUE OF 1851-57. 69 

not formed by continuous horizontal and vertical lines ruled across the plate 
but each stamp was provided with its rectangular frame, separated by a space 
of Y^ to i^mm. from the adjacent frames. Into each of these rectangles the 
design was transferred. There were similar frame lines on the die and it will 
be readily understood that they would frequently fail to fall exactly on the 
lines ruled on the plate, thus causing some portion of them to appear double. 
Very exhaustive lists of these varieties have been published, but, when we 
remember that there were twenty-eight plates of this value, each containing 
two hundred stamps, the hopelessness of finding or correctly placing all the 
varieties is at once apparent, to say nothing of the lack of interest or value in 
such a restoration. 

Five cents. Type I. On examining the stamps we observe that, sur- 
rounding the central medallion, there is an irregularly shaped mat of colorless 
lathe-work. The outer line of this lathe-work is formed of a series of loops. Types of the five 
Outside these loops are two thin lines of color, separated by a thin colorless cent sta "'P- 
line, all following the outline of the lathe-work and forming slight projections 
in the middle of each of the four sides. This is the form of the original die 
and of the stamps on the first plate for this value. The complete projections 
on the four sides are the distinguishing feature of type I. 

Ten cents. There is a line of color above and following the outlines 
of the label inscribed " u. s. postage" and a similar line below the label „ „ , 

Types of the ten 

with the words " ten cents ". The upper line is curved, like the label, and cent stamp. 
is usually very faint. The lower one is wavy and follows the double curve 
of the label. 

Type I. Both the lines are complete. 

Type II. One or both of the lines are broken in the center. As in 
the case of the one cent stamp, this is due to insufficient rocking of the 
transfer roll 

Type III. One or both of the lines have been recut. 

Type IV. The outer lines are as in type I, but the arabesque ornaments 
at the sides have been slightly cut away. 

Type V. The same as type II, with the side ornaments cut away. 

Type VI. The same as type III, with the side ornaments cut away. 

Type II is the variety commonly found. Types I and III are much 
scarcer. Types IV, V and VI are also quite scarce in the imperforate issue. 
The plates from which the stamps of the last three types were printed were 
doubtless prepared with a view to facilitating perforation but some sheets 
were issued imperforate. 

The paper used for this issue was of fine quality, hard and crisp. At 
first it was quite thick and opaque but, previous to the appearance of the 
perforated stamps, it became thinner and slightly transparent. It is often Paper, 

stained yellow or brownish by the gum. The one and three cent stamps have 
been seen on paper watermarked with a band of lines, as described in the 
1847 issue. The three cent stamp has also been chronicled on ruled writing 
paper, but careful examination proved that the ruled lines were merely an 
offset from the paper to which the stamp had been affixed. 



7° 



ISSUE OF 185I-57. 



Reference List. 



July 1st, 1851. 



The gum was thick and smooth, varying from almost white to a dark 
brownish yellow. 

Hard White Wove Paper. 

Imperforate. 

1 cent (type I) pale blue, blue, dark blue 

1 cent (type II) pale blue, blue, dark blue, pale dull blue, 

dark dull blue, slate-blue, sky blue, black-blue 
1 cent (type III) pale blue, blue, dark blue, bright blue, 

dark dull blue 
1 cent (type IV) pale blue, blue, dark blue, pale dull 
blue, dark dull blue, sky blue, greenish-blue, bright 
blue, gray-blue, black-blue, very dark ultramarine 
3 cents (type I) red, pale orange-red, dark orange-red, 
brown-red, pale rose-red, rose-red, dark rose-red, 
lilac-rose, lake, rosy lake, Indian red - 
5 cents (type I) brown, red-brown, dark red-brown, car- 
mine brown 
10 cents (type I) yellow-green, dark green 
10 cents (type II) yellow-green, dark green, blue-green 
10 cents (type III) yellow-green, dark green, blue-green 
10 cents (type IV) yellow-green 
10 cents (type V) yellow-green, dark green 
1 2 cents gray-black, black, deep smudgy black 

Varieties : 

1 cent blue. Numerous double transfers, the most not- 
able of which shows the outlines of "one cent " 
repeated across the face of the letters 

3 cents rose. Double transfers, the most distinct being 
that which shows a horizontal line through the 

words " THREE CENTS " 

3 cents. Diagonal half used as 1 cent. Cancelled : 
"San Francisco, Cal., May 30, 1853", and " May 
31st, 1853 ". Used on circulars 

12 cents black. Diagonal half used as 6 cents. Cancelled: 

"San Francisco, Cal, Sept. 9, ", " Sonora, 

Cal., Feb. 13, 1852 ", etc. 

12 cents black. One and diagonal half of another copy 
used as 18 cents. Cancelled: "Sacramento, Cal., 
Apl., 5, " 

12 cents black. Impression on the back 

It is interesting to note that the majority of the bisected stamps of this 

issue are on letters from California, indicating a shortage of the lower values 

Bisected stamps. ln that > at that date, remote section of the country. Many of the covers 

bearing these split stamps are hand-stamped " Via Nicaragua. Ahead of the 

mails ". At that time the mails between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts were 



July 1st, 1851. 

January 5th, 1856. 
May 4 th, 1855. 

July 1st, 185 1 . 



ISSUE OF 1851-57. 71 

carried by a steamship company via the isthmus of Panama. A rival com- 
pany, operating by the Nicaragua route, sought the contract for transporting 
the mails, basing their claim, in part, upon their quicker service. The hand- 
stamp was applied in furtherance of this claim. 

Halves of the ten cent stamp, supposed to have done duty as live 
cents, have long been known and accepted by collectors. At the time this 
work appeared in serial form such a divided stamp was listed among the Bisected ten oeut 
varieties of this issue. After an extremely careful examination of that par- stamp, 

ticular copy and a number of others, I have reached the conclusion that all 
the bisected ten cent stamps of the 1851-55 issue which I have seen are 
fraudulent. Reference to the postal laws of the period shows that the only 
purpose of a five cent stamp was to pay the registration fee. It is, of course, 
not impossible that a letter might have been mailed with that fee prepaid and 
the regular postage unpaid, but it is highly improbable. From and after 
January 1st, 1856, all postage was required to be prepaid in stamps. I have 
never seen a bisected ten cent stamp that was not cancelled later than that 
date. Until very strong evidence in its favor is forthcoming, I shall doubt 
the genuineness of any split ten cent stamp of this issue. 

The most dangerous examples of this would-be variety were made in 
San Francisco, a number of years ago, by a man who had, in some way, secured 
a discarded cancelling stamp of the post office of that city. I have seen a 
number of the counterfeit provisionals made by him. All were on pieces of 
buff laid paper, apparently portions of government envelopes of the 1864 
issue, the higher values of which were extensively used by the express com- 
panies of the Pacific coast, and all were cancelled " Dec. 22, 1858 ". 

The design for a stamp of the value of twenty-four cents was approved 
on April 24th, 1856. Following this approval the plate was made and the 
stamps printed and gummed. We can, however, find no record that they imperforate twenty- 
were issued until June, i860, when they appeared perforated.- But imper- four cent stamp. 
forate specimens in pairs and blocks are well-known and the existence of 
nearly an entire sheet in this condition is reported on excellent authority. I 
have seen two imperforate copies used on the original envelopes. 

The imperforate thirty and ninety cent stamps of this series have been 
much discussed. One thing, at least, cannot be denied, that is that they 
exist genuinely imperforate, not trimmed, since they are in pairs and strips, imperforate thirty 
They are on the same paper as the perforated copies and have the same gum. »"<i ninety cent 

fit ft HID 8 

A well-known philatelist makes this statement : " I, myself, bought a thirty 
cent orange, imperforate, at the New York post office in i860. And I dis- 
tinctly remember having used one on a letter containing some photographs." 
The most important evidence in favor of this stamp is furnished by a 
copy which was purchased by Messrs. Morgenthau & Co. in the summer of 
1899. This copy is on a letter sent from New York to Lyons, France. The 
cancellation covers a large portion of the stamp and is dated October 2nd, 
i860. The stamp has fine margins on three sides and shows a portion of the 
adjoining stamp at the left. It is printed in the peculiar brown-orange shade 
in which the imperforate copies are always found. It establishes, beyond 
doubt, the use of the thirty cent stamp in imperforate condition. 



72 ISSUE OF 1851-57. 

There was a cancelled copy of the imperforate ninety cents in the 
Hunter collection. Beyond question or contradiction, these three values, 
twenty-four, thirty and ninety cents, exist imperforate. It is, however, my 
opinion, that they do not constitute a part of the 1851-55 series but are 
varieties of the 1857-60 series which have escaped perforating. I shall place 
them under that heading. 

The plates for the 1851-55 issues each consisted of two panes of one 
hundred stamps, arranged in ten rows of ten. The panes were placed side 
plates. by side and separated by a single vertical line. This line marked the place 

at which the printed sheets were to be cut apart, to make the smaller sheets 
sold in the post offices. This practice is still continued, the panes being cut 
apart instead of perforated. This accounts for the imperforate edges found 
on one or two sides of each sheet of stamps. 

The imprint of the engravers appears at the middle of each side of the 
plate, the tops of the letters being toward the stamps. On the earlier plates 
imprints. of the one, three and twelve cents the inscription reads : " Toppan, Carpenter, 

Casilear & Co., bank note engravers, Phil., New York, Boston & Cin- 
cinnati." Below " Note " and " Engravers " the plate number appears thus : 
" No. 1 P." On a few plates the " P " is omitted. 

In 1855 the name " Casilear " was dropped from the imprint. The 
exact date cannot be given, but the name appears in order No. 95 of the Post 
Office Department and is missing from No. 96, which is dated July 6th, 1855. 

The later plates of the one, three and twelve cents and all plates of the 
five and ten cents, with the possible exception of plate 1 of the latter value, 
have the imprint " Toppan, Carpenter &: Co.," etc., etc., in the same style and 
arrangement as on the earlier plates. 

From lack of records and the fact that the same plates were used for 
both the imperforate and the perforated stamps only an incomplete list of the 
plate numbers can be given. Those given in the following list are known to 
exist imperforate. Beyond doubt there were other plates of the one cent 
stamps in this condition and possibly also of the three, ten and twelve cent 
values. The various types of the one and ten cent stamps appear to have 
been used or produced on the various plates quite at the fancy of the work- 
man and without any system. It is, therefore, impossible to assign to them 
any special plate numbers. 

ic blue No. 1. 

3c red (type I) No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. 

5c brown (type I) No. 1. 

ioc green No. 1. 

12c black No. 1. 

The plates of the one cent stamps of this and the succeeding issue 
were numbered consecutively from 1 to 12 and probably at least half of them 
were used for the imperforate stamps. No. 8 is the lowest number known 
perforated. Likewise the plates of the three cent stamps were numbered 
from 1 to 28 and number 10 is the lowest perforated number so far found. 
A plate of the twelve cents, which I suspect to be No. 2, exists both imper- 
forate and perforated. 



Plate numbers. 



ISSUE OF 1851-57. 73 

The name "Casilear" appears on the plates of the two issues, as 
follows : 

1 cent, on No. 1, not on No. 9 to 12. 

3 " " " 1, 2 , 3, 4, " " " 10 to 28. 

5 " " " " 1,2. 

IO " " " " 2, 3. 

12 " " " ,, " " " 3. 

24 " " " " I. 

30 " " " " I. 

90 " " " " I. 

It has not been possible to obtain lists of the stamps supplied by 
Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., and Toppan, Carpenter & Co. in each 
fiscal year for which they held the contract, and the reports of the quantities 
delivered by the Post Office Department to the deputy postmasters are quite 
incomplete. The records of the contractors were destroyed on March 4th, 
1872, at the burning of the Jayne building in Philadelphia. Such information 
as is obtainable is here presented. 

The first stamps of this issue were delivered by the contractors on 
June 21st, 1851, and consisted of 100,000 one cent, 300,000 three cents, and 
100,000 twelve cents. 

Through the valued assistance of an influential friend the following 
report has been obtained from the Post Office Department : 

"Stamps received from Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., June 21, 
1851 to July 6, 1855 : 

Fiscal year ending 12 cent. 10 cent. 3 cent. 1 cent. Value. 

June 30, 1851 200,000 1,710,000 400,000 $ 79,300.00 

June 30, 1852 480,000 49,410,000 6,860,000 1,608,500.00 

June 30, 1853 51210,000 4,450,000 1,580,800.00 

June 30, 1854 60,000 47,820,000 8,450,000 1,526,300.00 

June 30, 1855 20,220,000 3,900,000 645,600.00 

July 6, 1855 120,800 747,000 15,001,800 2,767,700 566,927.00 



Total, 868,800 



26,827,700 $6,007,427.00 



747,000 185,371,800 

Ten cent stamps appear to have been issued to postmasters on May 
4th, 1855, though no invoice is noted from Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co., 
to include them, until July 6th, 1855. They should doubtless be considered 
as having been received prior to June 30th, the end of the fiscal year." 

The report of the Postmaster General, dated December 1st, 1853, sup- 
plies the following : 

" Number of stamps issued to postmasters for sale in the fiscal years 
ending June 30th, 1852 and June 30th, 1853 : 

1 cent. 3 cent. 

1852 5,489,242 48,410,035 

1853 4,736,3 TI 5T, 461,040 
Total, 10,225,553 99,871,075 383, 6 97 $3, , 44,43'-42 



12 cent. 
237,042 
'46,655 



Amount. 

I,53S»638.5I 
1,608,792.91 



First delivery. 



Statistics of 
111 ami fact 11 re. 



Deliveries to 
postmasters. 



74 issue of 1851-57. 

Stamps sold by postmasters, year ending June 30th, 1852, . $1,316,563.59 
" " " " " " June 30th, 1853, . 1,629,262.12 

Leaving in hands of postmasters, .... 198,605.71" 

From 1853 to 1859 the reports of the Postmaster General do not 
unfortunately, supply statistics of the quantities of stamps delivered to post- 
masters or of those sold to the public. 

The different values of this issue were intended, primarily, for the 
payment of certain specific rates, though any value might be used in making 
Purpose nf the U P a rat e. The one cent stamps were to pay the postage on newspapers and 
various values, drop-letters. The three cent stamp represented the rate on ordinary letters 
and two of them made up the rate for distances over 3,000 miles. The five 
cent stamps were for the registration fee and two of them were frequently 
used to pay the rate over 3,000 miles, after it was changed in March, 1855. 
Ten cents was the rate to California and other points distant more than 3,000 
miles. The twelve cent stamps were for quadruple the ordinary rate. The 
twenty-four cent stamp represented the single rate on letters to Great Britain. 
Thirty cents was the corresponding rate to Germany. The ninety cent stamp 
was apparently intended merely to facilitate the payment of large amounts of 
postage. 



Issue of 1857-60. 



The stamps of this issue differ from those of the 1851-55 issue only in 
that they are perforated. This change, being merely a detail of manufacture, 
was effected without legislation. There are, therefore, no official documents 
to reproduce. But the following bit of inside history may be somewhat 
interesting. It is extracted from a letter addressed to the Commissioner of 
Internal Revenue on the subject of plates for revenue stamps : 

" Having been requested by Messrs. Butler & Carpenter to state such facts as might 
be within my knowledge in reference to a fair price to be charged for engraving stamp 
plates, I beg leave to say that, as the business partner of my firm (Toppan, Carpenter & Co.,) j^ter concerning 
1 negotiated all the contracts in reference to Postage Stamps which were made with the perforating ami 
Government from 1851 to 1861 (10 years) and, therefore, 1 have personal knowledge of what ne „ ,,] ft tes. 
I shall state. 

In 1857 the Postmaster General determined to introduce the perforation of Postage 
Stamps. In order to do this it became necessary for us to make 3 new plates of 1 cent, 
6 plates of 3c, 1 plate of 5c, 1 plate of 10c, 1 plate of 12c and 1 plate of 24c, in all, 13 plates, 
besides a large outlay to procure the necessary machinery for perforating the stamps, and, in 
view of the fact that our first contract with the Government would expire in about 4 months 
from that time and might not be renewed, we felt it to be necessary to protect ourselves 
against loss by asking that, in case the contract for furnishing Postage Stamps should not be 
renewed with us at the end of our term, that in that case the Government should indemnify 
us from loss by paying us $500 for the engraving of each of the 13 plates, or $6,soo for the 
whole of the plates, and a further sum of $;,oco for the perforating machine with the 
necessary machinery. This was promptly agreed to by the Postmaster General and a 
contract to that effect was made and executed on the 6 Feb. 1857. The plates and perforat- 
ing machinery were, of course, to become the property of the Government, in the contingency 
of our losing the contract and the Government paying for the plates and machinery. 

I have given the above facts not only from my own recollection of them but from 
the contract with the P. O. Department, which is before me." 

(Signed) S. H. Carpenter, 

Philadelphia, April 2nd, 1863. of the late firm of Toppan, Carpenter & Co. 

The first stamps were perforated and delivered to the Government on Kirst delivery. 
February 24th, 1857. 

The designs are the same as in the 1851-55 issue with the addition of 
three new values which are thus officially described : 

"Twenty-four cents. Portrait of Washington, after the painting by 
Stuart, three-quarters face, looking to the right, on an oval disk with very 
dark ground, surrounded by a solid curved border, bearing above the words Designs and colors. 
" u. s. postage" and below the words "twenty four cents" in white 
capitals, the two inscriptions being separated on each side by a small triple 
rectangle. Around the whole of this is a mass of badly mixed lathe-work, 
forming a frame of irregular oblong form, with rounded corners and curved, 
incisions, all enclosed by a fine outer line. Color, very dark lilac. 



76 ISSUE OF 1857-60. 

Thirty cents. Profile bust of Franklin, looking to the left, on an 
oval disk with a very dark ground, and with a slightly shaded border. In an 
irregular panel at the top are the words " u. s. postage ", in two lines of 
white capitals ; at the bottom in a panel, are the Arabic numerals "30"; on 
the two sides are the words "thirty'' and "cents" respectively, in white 
capitals ; at each of the four corners is a shield, placed obliquely, with fine 
radiations, and connected with ornate shaded scrolls. The two sides and the 
top of the stamp are enclosed by a fine double line, ending in six spear points. 
Color, orange. 

Ninety cents. Portrait of Washington, in generals' uniform, after 
the painting by Trumbull, three-quarters face, on a very dark oblong ground 
with arched top. In a solid panel, conforming to the curve of this arch, are 
the words " u. s. postage " in white capitals, while at the bottom of the 
portrait, in a straight panel, with rounded ends, are the words " ninety 
cents ". Connecting these two panels, and forming an oblong frame for the 
portrait, are scroll-work ornaments, resting on a sort of pedestal. Color, 
deep indigo blue." 
„. The sizes of these stamps were: Twenty-four cents, iQj^x25mm. ; 

thirty cents, 20x25mm.; ninety cents, iQX24^mm. 

The types are the same as in the preceding issue, with the addition 
of a few caused by alterations to admit of perforating. These additional 
varieties are : 

Three cents. Type II. The horizontal frame lines at top and 
Types of the three bottom have been removed from both the transfer roll and the plate. On 
cent stamp. many specimens the side lines appear to be closer to the body of the design 
than on the imperforate stamps. 

Type I is known as the variety "with outer lines" and type II as the 
variety "without outer lines." This, of course, refers only to the lines at 
the top and bottom of the stamps. 

Five cents. Type II. The outer line of color on the projecting 

Types of the live ornaments at top and bottom has been cut away. This is usually spoken of 
cent stamp. (( ,, , ,, 

as ornaments partly removed. 

Type III. The cutting has been carried still further and both the 
outer and inner lines and part of the colorless loops have been cut away. 
This variety is called "ornaments entirely removed." 

These types are from two different transfer rolls, though both occur 
on the same plate. They are arranged in horizontal rows, the first, third, 
sixth and tenth rows being of type II and the balance of the plate of type III. 

Ten cents. Type VI of this stamp has not been noted in the per- 
Types of the ten forated state, though it may exist. Types IV and V are those commonly 
cent stamp. found, while types I, II and III are much scarcer. 

The paper used for this issue was thin, hard and brittle, much of it 
semi-transparent, white but usually tinted by the gum and often colored on 
Paper. tne surface from poorly wiped plates. I have recently seen copies of the 

three cents (type II), on paper which showed faint laid lines. This appears 
to be much the same paper as was used for some values of the 1861-66 
issue, 



ISSUE OF 1857-60. 77 

The gum was thin and smooth and varied in color from yellow-white 
to almost brown. 

White Wove Paper. Reference List. 

Perforated 15, 15^. 

Feb. , 1857. 1 cent (type I) pale blue, blue, dark blue, bright blue, 

dull blue 
1 cent (type II) pale blue, blue, dark blue, dull blue, 

bright blue 
1 cent (type III) pale blue, blue, dark blue, dull blue, 

gray-blue, dark ultramarine 
1 cent (type IV) blue, dark blue, gray-blue 
Feb. 24th, 1857. 3 cents (type I) pale rose-red, rose-red, rosy-lake, lake, 

dull red, Indian red 
. 3 cents (type II) pale rose-red, rose-red, rosy lake, lake, 
orange-red, red, brown-red 

Feb. , 1857. 5 cents (type I) brick red, rose-brown, pale red-brown, 

red-brown, dark red-brown, carmine-brown, brown, 
gray-brown 
5 cents (type II) brown, dark brown, gray-brown, orange- 
brown 
5 cents (type III) brown, dark brown, gray-brown, bistre- 
brown, orange-brown 

Feb. , 1857. 10 cents (type I) dark green 

10 cents (type II) yellow-green, dark green, bright blue- 
green, blue-green, gray-green 
10 cents (type III) yellow-green, dark green 
10 cents (type IV) yellow-green, dark green, blue-green, 

dark blue-green, gray-green 
10 cents (type V) yellow-green, dark yellow-green, dark 
green, bright blue-green, blue-green, gray-green 

Feb. , 1857. 12 cents gray-black, greenish black, full black, deep 

smudgy black 
June 15th, i860. 24 cents bright lilac, lilac, gray-lilac, gray, slate, blackish 

violet, dull reddish lilac 
Aug. 12th, i860. 30 cents yellow-orange, orange, red-orange 
Aug. 13th, i860. 90 cents indigo, dark indigo 

Varieties : 

1 cent blue, dark blue. Double transfers. The most 
pronounced shows the shadings of "one cent" 
repeated like links below the panel 

3 cents (type I) rose-red. Double transfers, notably that 
with the horizontal line through " three cents " 

3 cents (type I) rose. Vertical pair, imperforate hori- 
zontally 

3 cents (type I) rose. Horizontal pair, imperforate ver- 
tically 



ISSUE OF 1857-60. 



Imperforate au<l 

part-perforate 

stamps. 



Shades and change- 
lings. 



Tlie black thirty 
cent stamp. 



l'lates and 
prints. 



24 cents gray-lilac. Imperforate 

30 cents brown-orange. Imperforate 
90 cents indigo. Imperforate 

White Laid Paper. 

Perforated 15, 15^. 

3 cents (type II) dull rose-red 

It may be well to say here that no imperforate or part-perforate varieties 
of stamps which are normally perforate, will be listed in this work, except 
such as are known in pairs or blocks. Owing to defects in manufacture, 
stamps are frequently found which have such widely spaced perforations as 
to allow trimming by those who enjoy producing such fraudulent novelties. 
For this reason it seems best to refuse recognition to all varieties except such 
as are entirely beyond suspicion. 

The three cents of this and the preceding issue is frequently found in 
shades of brown and almost black. The thirty cents is also known in brown. 
These shades are merely the result of chemical changes, natural or artificial. 
The same discolorations occur in similar shades in other issues. They are 
largely due to what is commonly called "oxidization." " Sulphuretting " 
would more correctly express the change. Stamps printed in mineral inks 
are particularly subject to such darkening of their colors, especially those in 
red and orange shades. 

The greenish shades of the twenty-four cents in this and the succeeding 
issue are due to the action of acids or strong sunlight. I am not certain that 
the twenty-four cents in dull reddish-lilac was ever issued as a stamp. I 
have seen copies, both imperforate and perforated, in old collections of proofs 
and essays and I am inclined to think it belongs in that category rather than 
among stamps. I have, however, no positive evidence to confirm this belief. 
In addition to the above stamps and varieties the thirty cents is known 
printed in black. It is imperforate and on the regular paper. This has 
usually been regarded as a proof. But Mr. Francis C. Foster states that, at 
the time he obtained his copy, he was told that it was a stamp and had been 
in use, and that shortly afterwards he made inquiry at the Washington post 
office and was informed that it was actually on sale at that office for a few 
days but, because the cancellation did not show up well, the color was 
changed. However, it must be remembered that the twenty-four cents also 
exists in black, identical with this thirty cents in shade and paper. And 
copies of the five, twenty-four and ninety cents are known in various colors, 
imperforate and printed on the regular paper. It has never been claimed 
that these latter varieties are anything but proofs in trial colors. 

Many of the plates of the 1851-55 issue were also emplo)ed for printing 
the stamps of the 1857-60 issue. The new plates are of the same dimensions as 
those of the preceding issue and have the imprint in the same position. The 
imprint is, with a few exceptions, of the second variety. The known excep- 
tions are plates of the one, twelve, thirty and ninety cents, on which the 
imprint is "toppan, carpenter & CO., Philadelphia", in small white-faced 
capitals, on a tablet of solid color with square ends. There is a thin colored 



ISSUE OF 1857-60. 



79 



ic blue 




3c red 


(type I) 


3c red 


(type II) 



5c brown (type I) 



5c " 

5c " 
ioc green 
12c black 
24c lilac 
30c orange 
90c indigo 



(type II) 
(type III) 



line parallel to the top and sides of the tablet but none at the bottom. Below 
this there is, on the one cent "No. 12. P.", on the three cents the numeral 
"3 " only, and on the thirty and ninety cents " No. 1 P." 

The following plate numbers are known to have been used for the 
perforated stamps : 

No. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. 

No. 

No. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 
17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 
24, 25, 26, 27, 28. 

No. 1. 

No. 2. 

No. 2. 

No. 2, 3. 

No. 3. 

No. 1. 

No. 1. 

No. 1. 

On comparing this list with that of the plates of the 1851 issue it will 
be seen that plates 7, 8 and 9 of the three cents and plate 2 of the twelve 
cents are not listed. They exist, but it has been impossible to secure infor- 
mation which would correctly locate them. Neither has it been possible to 
learn which plates of the three cents of type I were used for the perforated 
issue. It is probable that the name " Casilear " did not appear on any plates 
used for the perforated stamps, with the possible exception of the three cents 
of type I. 

The statistics of this issue are, unfortunately, very incomplete. The 
following extracts, taken from the annual reports of the Postmaster General, 
are all that can be supplied at present : 

"Number of postage stamps issued to postmasters during the fiscal years ending as 
follows : 

Year ending June 50th, 1859 : 
1 cent. 3 cent. 

44,432,300 142,087,800 

Whole number 192,201,920. 

Year ending June 30th, i860 : 
1 cent. 3 cent. 5 cent. 10 cent. 12 cent. 

50,723,400 159,463,600 579,360 3,898,450 1,653,500 

Whole number 216,370,660. Value $5,920,939.00." 

" Larger denominations of postage stamps have been adopted and introduced, 
especially for the purpose of affording requisite facilities to prepay the postage on letters to 
foreign countries, and of removing all excuses heretofore existing of paying such postages in 
money. The new denominations are twenty-four cents, thirty cents and ninety cents. The 
two latter have been introduced since July 1st last, and the sales up to November 1st have 
been as follows : 

Thirty cent stamps, . 140,860; amounting to $42,258.00 

Ninety cent stamps, . 15,840; " 14,256.00 

Previously to July 1st there were issued of the 

Twenty-four cent stamps, . 52,350; amounting to $12,564.00 
From July 1 st to Nov. 1st, . 287,975; " " 69,11400 



5 cent. 10 cent. 

486,560 3,765,560 

Value $5,279,405.00. 



12 cent. 
1,429,700 



24 cent* 
52,350 



Plate numbers. 



Deliveries to 

postmasters. 



Total issues of new denominations, 497,025 ; amounting to $138,192.00 



8o ISSUE OF 1857-60. 

Year ending June 30th, 1 86 1 : 

Quarter ending 1 cent. 3 cent. 

Sept. 30, i860 12,750,100 36,512,700 

Dec. j i, i860 14,778,085 39,171,800 

March 31, 1861 14, 1 74,768 41,022,956 

June 30, 1861 12,184,839 33,615,600 

I S 1, 223, 056 

24 cent. 
1 70,oco 
201 , 1 50 

'47.325 

132,125 

1,053,900 650,600 340,000 24,280 

Whole number 211,788,518. Value $5,908,522.60." 

There are no available statistics covering the number of stamps issued 
between June 30th, 1861 and the appearance of the new issue in August of 
that year. In view of the impending change and the reasons which prompted 
it, we may assume that the quantity was restricted as far as possible. 







53 


,893,762 
12 cent. 


Sept. 30, 
Dec. 31, 
March 31, 
June 30, 


i860 
i860 
1861 

1861 




384,800 

243i8 2 5 
232, 400 
192,875 



5 cent. 


10 cent. 


146,920 


922,150 


178,640 


1,154,910 


223,000 


852,900 


128,640 


995.730 


677,200 


3,925,690 


30 cent. 


90 cent. 


103,860 


1 1,960 


105,960 


6,200 


65,040 


4,110 


65, 140 


2,010 



Issues of 1861-66. 



Issue of 1861. 



The breaking out of the civil war, in April, 1861, and the natural desire 
of the government that its stamps should not be used to the profit of the 
seceding states were the causes of the issue of 1861. 

An article in the Chicago Times-Herald in September 1896, says : 

At the post offic-e department I was told that in May, 1861, Postmaster General 
Montgomery Blair issued an order requiring all postmasters to return to the department all 
postage stamps and stamped envelopes in their possession, but 1 was unable to see the order, 
as no copy is preserved in the files of the department, and its precise language is unknown. 

I sought further information in the files of the National Intelligencer, preserved in the 
library of Congress, which was the organ of the department in 1861. I found in the issue of 
June 1 3th, ! 861 , the following " extract from the department files," introduced by appropriate 
editorial comment, published for the information of the public : 

" There are now no postmasters of the United States, in the seceded States, authorized 
to sell stamps or collect postage, since the 1st of June, for this government. Postmasters, 
therefore, must treat all matter since the 1st of June coming from the seceded States, and 
mailed within these States, as unpaid matter to be held for postage. All such matter is 
ordered to be sent to the dead letter office at Washington to be disposed of according 
to law." 

In the issue of the following day, June 14, 1861, the following appeared 

as an editorial paragraph : 

" In consequence of the retention and improper use of postage stamps by delinquent 
postmasters in some of the seceded States, the Postmaster General has ordered a new stamped 
envelope, which will be ready for use in a few days, and that by the 1st of August there 
will be a new stamp with devices altogether different from the present." 

In August, 1 86 r , the following circular letter was sent to postmasters 
throughout the country : 

Post Office Department. 



Postmaster. 



FINANCE OFFICE I 86 I . 



Sir : You will receive herewith a supply of postage stamps which you will observe 
are of a new style, differing both in design and color from those hitherto used, and having 
the letters U. S. in the lower corners of each stamp, and its respective denomination indicated 
by figures as well as letters. You will immediately give public notice through the news- 
papers and otherwise, that you are prepared to exchange stamps of the new style for an 
equivalent amount of the old issue, during a period of six days from the date of the notice, 
and that the latter will not thereafter be received in payment of postage on letters sent from 
your office. 

You will satisfy yourself by personal inspection that stamps offered in exchange have 
not been used through the mails or otherwise ; and if in any case you have good grounds 
for suspecting that stamps, presented to you for exchange, were sent from any of the disloyal 
states, you will not receive them without due investigation. 

Immediately after the expiration of the above period of six days, you will return to 
the Third Assistant Postmaster General all stamps of the old style in your possession, includ- 
ing such as you may obtain by exchange, placing them in a secure package, which must be 



Historical. 



Annouueeineut of 
the 1801 issue. 



Kedeniption of 
stamps of the 
1857-00 issue. 



82 



ISSUE OF l86l. 



Authority to declare 
stamps invalid. 



carefully registered in the manner prescribed by Chapter }q, of the Regulations of this 
Department. 

Be careful also to write legibly the name of your office as well as that of your county 
and state. A strict compliance with the foregoing instructions is absolutely necessary, that 
you may not fail to obtain credit for the amouut of stamps returned. 

Instead of sending stamps to the Department you can, if convenient, exchange them 
for new ones at some city post office, where large supplies are to be found. It being 
impossible to supply all offices with new stamps at once, you will deliver letters received from 
Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Maryland and Pennsylvania, prepayed by stamps 
of the old issue, until September 10th, those from other loyal states east of the Rocky 
Mountains until the first of October, and those from the states of California and Oregon and 
from the Territories of New Mexico, Utah and Washington, until the first of November, 1861. 

Your Obedient Servant, 

A. N. Zevely, 
Third Assistant Postmaster General. 

In a subsequent order the dates specified in the last paragraph of the 
Extension of time foregoing circular were extended to November 1st, i86r, December 1st, 1861, 
for redemption. anc j January 1st, 1862 for the respective sections. 

The question of the authority of the Postmaster General to declare the 
stamps of the 1857 issue obsolete and invalid for postal purposes has been 
much discussed. The action met with public approval at the time and was, 
presumably, within his province. The acts of Congress did not restrict him 
to the employment of any particular designs for stamps or require their con- 
tinuance in use after adoption, thus, constructively, leaving all such details to 
his discretion. The dicta of the head of a department, on matters placed 
within his control, have the authority of law, unless they are in conflct with a 
provision of the Constitution or of the statutes of the United States. 

It is curious that the order of the Postmaster General seems to have 

applied only to the adhesive stamps and not to the stamped envelopes then 

current. No mention of envelopes is made in the official circular quoted 

above. A correspondent of the Stamp Collectors Magazine says, in the number 

for August, 1867 : 

" We do not think that the i860 envelopes were outlawed, though they of course 
soon gave place to the new issue of 1861, but upon this point we are not certain. We know 
that the one cent envelope and wrapper were never thus treated, however, but when the 
lowest rate of postage (newspapers and drop letters) was raised from ic to 2c in 1863, the 
stock on hand was sold to applicants for two-cent wrappeis or envelopes, the value being 
completed by the addition of a ic adhesive to each ic wrapper or envelope. 
of the old series was thus got rid of, the new 2c value was supplied 
envelopes were printed, but they have always been, and to-day are, 
value whenever offered." 

The report of the Postmaster General, dated December 2nd, i86r, 
gives additional information concerning the changes in the postage stamps : 

The contract for the manufacture of postage stamps having expired on the 10th of 
June, 1861, a new one was entered into with the National Bank Note Company of New York, 
upon terms very advantageous to the Department, from which there will result an annual 
saving of more than thirty per cent, in the cost of the stamps. 

In oidei to prevent the fraudulent use of the large quantity of stamps remaining 
unaccounted for, in the hands of postmasters in the disloyal states, it was deemed advisable 
to change the design and the color of those manufactured under the new contract, and also 
to modify the design of the stamp upon the stamped envelope, and to substitute as soon as 
possible the new for the old issues. It was the defign of the Department that the distribution 
of the new stamps and envelopes should commence on the first of August, but, from un- 
avoidable delays, that of the latter did not take place until the 15th of that month. 

The number of postage stamps of the new style issued up to the 9th of November was 
77,1 i7,sao and the number of new stamped envelopes, 8,939,650. All post offices in the 
loyal states with the exception of certain offices in Kentucky and Missouri, have been 
supplied therewith Those of the old issue have been exchanged and superseded. The old 
stamps on hand, and such as were received by exchange, at the larger offices, have been to 



Envelopes not de 
clared invalid. 



When the stock 
No more of the ic 
recognized at their face 



Report of Postmaster 
General. 



ISSUE OF 1 86 1, 



83 



Confederate 
Postmaster General 



a great extent counted and destroyed, and those of the smaller offices returned to the Depart- 
ment. It is proper to state that, in anticipation of the substitution of the new stamps and 
envelopes for the old issue, but limited supplies of the latter were sent to postmasters during 
June and July, so that the amount thereof remaining in their hands was comparatively small. 
The additional expense incurred by the change is very inconsiderable, in view of the 
greatly dimished cost of the new stamps as compared with that of the old, while the 
prevention thereby of the use of stamps unaccounted for in the hands of disloyal postmasters 
saves the Department from severe loss. Although the enumeration and destruction of the 
old stamps and envelopes is not yet completed, there is ample evidence that few received in 
exchange were sent from disloyal States. 

In this connection an extract from a proclamation of John H. Reagan, 

ex-Postmaster General of the Confederate States, dated May 13th, 1861, is 

also of interest : 

" All postmasters are hereby required to render to the Post-office Department at 
Washington, D. C, their final accounts and their vouchers for postal receipts and expendi- 
tures, up to the 31st day of this month, taking care to forward with said accounts all postage 
stamps and stamped envelopes remaining on hand, belonging to the Post Office Department orders U. S. stamps 
of the United States, in order that they may receive the proper credits therefore, in the returned. 

adjustment of their accounts." 

It would be interesting to know the result of this order. It is doubtful 
if, in the disturbed state of the country, it was obeyed to any extent. How- 
ever, at a period long subsequent to 1861, there were in the Post Office Remainders. 
Department a large quantity of the stamps of the 1857-60 issue. It is under- 
stood that the majority of these had been found in Southern post offices, 
after the war, and returned to Washington. We know that one prominent 
dealer acquired 2,000 complete sets by indirect purchase. Another well- 
known dealer was presented with i,8oo sets, in return for his assistance in 
arranging the government collection of stamps. All these sets were in full 
sheets. There is no available record of the number of stamps returned to the 
Department by postmasters or of those destroyed. 

By act of Congress, approved March 3rd, r86i, the Act of March 3rd, 
1851, was amended to require the rate of ten cents, prepaid, on all letters from 
points east of the Rocky Mountains to any state or territory on the Pacific 
Coast and vice versa. Postage on all drop letters was required to be pre-paid 
by means of stamps. 

The same portraits and busts were used on the stamps of the 1861 
issue as on the corresponding values of the 1857 issue. They were, however? 
newly engraved and the surrounding devices were of entirely new designs. 

The official description of the designs is as follows : 

" One cent. Profile head of Franklin, looking to the right, in an ellipse 
as large as could be placed upon the stamp, viz., 1 by ^ inch. The entire 
ground within the enclosure is formed of lathe-work. The outer three- Designs, 

sixteenths of an inch of this space is more open. The upper corner spaces 
contain the Arabic figure '1 ', and the lower the white capital letters 'u' 
and ' s ' in the left and right, respectively — all four corners having ornate 
surroundings. The words ' u. s. postage ' are placed above and ' one 
cent ' below the bust, following the curvature of the elliptic lathe-work upon 
which they rest. The portrait is probably intended as a copy from Rubricht. 

Three cents. A profile of Washington, looking to the left, rests upon 
an oblong tablet of lathe-work, which is scarcely separated from the rest of 
the stamp by a border of lighter work of the same character. The entire 



Increase in rate to 
the Pacific Coast. 



84 ISSUE OF 1861. 

ground of the stamp, except touches at and near the outer corners, is of 
this machine design. The large Arabic figure '3' appears in the upper 
corners, and between them, in two lines, are ' u. s.' and 'postage', the latter 
word taking the curve of the head close below. At the bottom, also in two 
lines of white capitals, are the words ' three ' and 'cents ', the ends of the 
lines tending upward. In the lower corners are the Gothic capitals ' u ' and 
' s ', of the same size as the figures ; all four are white, except slight tracery 
near the middle of each. 

Five cents. A portrait of Jefferson rests upon a cross-hatched 
elliptical tablet 17-32 by 43-64 of an inch. This is surrounded by a border 
of lathe-work, principally in a triple line design, reaching the limits of the 
stamp and giving the general outline of a parallelogram, though the corners 
are rounded, and midway of each side it swells outward. A large white 
Arabic figure ' 5 ' is placed in each of the upper corners, and resting on each 
end of the line ' u. s. postage ', which rises in the middle to surmount the 
upper curve of the tablet. Similar white capitals form the words ' five 
cents', below the tablet, and the Gothic capitals ' u ' and ' s ', slightly 
distorted, are placed in the lower corners. 

Ten cents. The head of Washington is upon a hatched ground whose 
cross lines are almost imperceptible, and is enclosed by four small white stars 
on each side, with the words ' u. s. postage' above and 'ten cents' 
below. There are five more stars at the top of the stamp. The number 
'10', in Arabic figures, is placed in each upper corner, in an appropriate 
inclosure of ornamental design, and the white capitals 'u ' and 's' are seen 
in the left and right lower corners, respectively. 

Twelve cents. The face of Washington is placed upon a cross- 
hatched elliptical ground ^ by V% inch, which is surrounded to the edge of 
the stamp by a very fine geometrical design, with a serrated outer white line, 
edged with a black hair line and the trace of an ornament in the middle of 
each side, with a larger one at each corner, outside the lines mentioned. The 
number ' 12 ' in Arabic figures, inclined as in the 2-cent stamp, is placed in 
each upper corner, with ' u. s. postage' between, bordering the medallion 
line. Below, in the corners, are the white capitals 'u.' and 's.' with the 
words 'twelve cents' just below the medallion line and rising at each end 
above the 'u.' and *s.' The portrait is the same as that on the 10 cent stamp. 

Twenty-four cents. The portrait is the smallest in the series, and 
inclosed by very fine lathe-work }£ of an inch wide, the general outline of 
which is irregularly hexagonal. On each outer side, above the middle line, 
are four small five-pointed stars, enlarged in size from the lowest one up. At 
the top are three more stars, the smallest one in the middle. To the right 
and left of these, in the corners, and within an elliptical space, are the white 
faced and shaded Arabic numerals ' 24 ' inclined slightly to the left and 
right. In each lower corner is a large five-pointed star, completing the 
thirteen ; upon the left of these is the letter ' u ', and upon the right ' s ', 
tending inward at the top. Curled-leaf ornaments above and at the side of 
these stars complete the principal features of the stamp. The portrait ground 
is cross lined vertically and horizontally, 



issue ok i86r. 85 

Thirty cents. The portrait is inclosed in a circle 21-32 of an inch 
in diameter. The background of this space is obliquely cross lined at right 
angles. The inscriptions ' u. s. postage ' above and ' thirty cents ' below 
the circle, followed it closely ; the number ' 30 ' leans outward in the upper 
corners, and the white capital letters ' u ' and ' s ' in the lower left and right 
hand corners, respectively, incline inward. Around the sides are scroll-work 
ornamentations. 

Ninety cents. The portrait stands upon a background similar to 
that of the 5, 12 and 15 cent stamps. The border, about 3-32 of an inch 
wide, is crossed with rays. The outer line of this border rises at the top to a 
Gothic apex. The denomination numerals ' 90 ' appear at each side of the 
tablet, on its border, one-fourth of an inch from its highest point. Across 
the top of the stamp, upon an independent pennant tablet, whose ends fall 
about the border, are the words ' u. s. postage ', in white shaded capitals. 
The words ' ninety ' and 'cents ' are upon the left and right lower quarters 
of the border, which rests upon branches of oak and laurel tied with a small 
ribbon. The extreme lower corners are filled with the letters ' u ' and ' s ' 
in the left and right, respectively." 

The dimensions of the stamps are: One cent, I9^x25mm.; three 
cents, 20x25mm.; five cents, 20^x25 J^mm.; ten cents, 2o^x24j^mm.; sizes, 

twelve cents, 19^x24^011™.; twenty-four cents, 1954x24mm.; thirty cents, 
2ox24^mm.; ninety cents, I9^x24^mm. 

The issue of 1 86 1 may be divided into two sections. They are, how- 
ever, so intimately related and, with two exceptions, vary so slightly in design 
that it is difficult to consider them separately. The first section, usually premieres gravures. 
referred to as the premieres gravures, was issued in the early part of August, 
1861. The 14th of that month is usually given as the date of issue, though I 
have not found the authority for the statement. It may, possibly, have been 
deduced from a paragraph in the report of the Postmaster General just quoted, 
which says : " It was the design of the Department that the distribution of 
the new stamps and envelopes should commence on the first of August, but, 
from unavoidable delays, that of the latter did not take place until the 15th 
of that month." The most which can be asserted, on this authority, is that 
the stamps were issued previous to the 15th of the month but not on the 1st, 
as originally intended. The three and twelve cents of this series present a 
decidedly unfinished look, especially at the corners. Philatelists have long 
been familiar with these two values but, used specimens not being known, 
they were regarded as essays. The other values differ so slightly from the 
ordinary types that they escaped notice for thirty-five years. The discovery 
of the earlier variety of the ten cents lead to the study of the whole series and 
the eventual discovery of the complete set of the first types. 

The first designs did not give full satisfaction and improvements were 
ordered. These were quite extensive on the three and twelve cents but very 
slight on most of the other values. So far as known no changes, beyond Alterations. 
those of color, were made in the twenty-four and thirty cents. Altering the 
designs and making new plates involved a considerable delay. Meantime the 
need of new stamps was urgent. To meet this demand, it was found necessary 



86 



ISSUE OF l86l. 



Date of issue of 
second series. 



Types of the first 
ami second series. 



to issue the stamps of the first types. The scarcity of these varieties proves 
that this issue was restricted as much as possible. The first stamp to be 
issued in the altered design was, naturally, the three cents, that being the 
ordinary rate of postage and, consequently, the value most in demand. A 
copy of this stamp is known 'cancelled August 18th, i86r, four days after the 
date of issue assigned to the stamps of the first types. Several other values 
are known cancelled in that month. So far, used copies of the one, thirty 
and ninety cents have not been reported. When it was first discovered that 
this issue was composed of two series, it was believed that the stamps of the 
second types were not ready for use until September, 1861, and the two series 
were designated as the August and September issues, respectively. But from 
the information supplied by the cancellations we perceive that these titles are 
incorrect and must be abandoned. 

The differences between the first and second types may be described 
as follows : 





One cent. From the numerals in the upper corners arabesque orna- 
ments extend downward and also across the top, resting upon the curved 
frame-line of the stamp. The extreme tip of the upper left-hand ornament 
is directly above the " p " of " postage ". In the first type this tip rests upon 
the curved line but does not extend below it. In the second type there is a 
strong dash under the tip and below the line. Other, though lighter, dashes 
appear further down the curve, above the " s " and opposite the " u " of " u. s." 
There are also shading lines under the upper ornament on the right. None 
of these marks appear in the first type. The vertical shadings in the corner 
spaces which enclose the numerals and the letters " u " and " s " are increased 
in the second type. 





Three cents. The first type of this stamp is probably better known 
to collectors than any other value in the set. Outside the irregular rectangle 
of lathe-work there are only some trifling ornaments and the stamp looks bare 
and unfinished. In the second type this has been remedied by the use of 
more elaborate ornaments, especially at the corners, which have been built 
out so that the outline of the design is now approximately rectangular. 





issue of i86r. 



87 



Five cents. The two types of this stamp differ but little. The 
delicate, leaf-like ornaments at the corners lack, in the first type, the leaflet 
(if we may so term it), which projects farthest. 





Ten cents. In the upper part of the stamps are five white stars on a 
background of ruled lines. The background is separated from the label con- 
taining " u. s. postage ", by a curved white line. In the second type a heavy 
line of color has been cut along the lower ends of the background lines, 
above and following the curve of the white line. An outer line has also been 
added to all the ornaments above the stars. 





Twelve cents. The first type of this stamp differs so materially from 
the second, that, at first glance, one scarcely recognizes it as a prototype. 
There is nothing outside the mat of lathe-work except a thin wavy line follow- 
ing the outline. In appearance it is even more unfinished than the three 
cents of the first type. To make the second type, small ovals and arabesques 
were added at each corner and little scrolls at the sides. These additions, as 
in the case of the three cents, make the outline of the stamp about rectangular. 

No variations have been found in the twenty-four and thirty cent 
stamps. As there was but one plate for each value, it is not probable that 
any changes were made in the designs. The colors of the first printing differ 
very decidedly from those of the ordinary stamps. A few slight retouches 
may be found on some of the twenty-four cent stamps, but they probably 
indicate a late touching up of the plate, rather than alterations in the die. 





Ninety cents. Above the ribbon with " u. s. postage " the lines of 
the frame meet in an obtuse angle, made by parallel lines of color, separated 
by a white space about one-half millimetre wide. To form the second type 
a strong point of color was added at the apex of the lower lines of the angle 
and a series of little dashes drawn through the center of the white space, 
making a broken line of color, between and parallel to the other lines. On 
many of the stamps this broken line is too faint to be seen, but the colored 
point usually, stands out clearly. The leaf beside the " u " in the lower left 



88 



ISSUE OF l86l. 



corner has been recut and now has vertical instead of horizontal lines of 
shading. If, instead of these trifling marks, something more elaborate had 
been added to fill out the very bare upper part of the stamp, the improvement 
in its appearance would have been greater. 

Beyond doubt the eye is best pleased by stamps whose outlines fill out 
a rectangle. The designers of our earlier stamps either failed to appreciate 
this idea or to carry it out. Thus we find in many of the stamps of the older 
issues an unsatisfactory bareness and lack of completeness, notably at the 
corners. On the other hand, many of our later issues appear painfully plain 
and lacking in variety when compared with the graceful designs and elaborate 
ornamentation of the earlier issues. v 

The paper of the premieres gravures is very thin, hard and extremely 
brittle. The stamps are easily cracked, unless handled very carefully. The 
characteristics of paper is also quite transparent and much of the designs may be seen from 
the premieres the backs of the stamps. The gum is very dark brown, sometimes staining 
the paper. The colors are very dark and rich and the ink heavily applied, 
occasionally giving a blurred appearance, though, as a rule, the impressions 
are very fine and clear. 

Reference List. First Types. 

Very Thin Yellowish-white Wove Paper. 
Perforated 12. 
Aug. 14th, 1 86 1. 1 cent indigo 

3 cents brownish lake, lake 
5 cents orange-brown 
10 cents dark yellow-green, dark green 
12 cents gray-black 
24 cents violet, deep violet 
30 cents red-orange 
90 cents slate-blue 

Varieties : 
3 cents brownish lake. Imperforate 
90 cents slate blue. Imperforate 

The three cents has been seen printed in pink, scarlet and carmine- 
Coior varieties, lake, but it is not probable that it was ever issued in these colors. 

It is probable that most of the stamps of the second types made their 
appearance early in September, 186 r. The dates given in the following list 
are those of the earliest cancellations which I have been able to discover. 
The alterations in the types were accompanied by pronounced changes in the 
colors of the stamps. 

The paper is still thin but tougher than in the preceding group. The 
gum is very dark brown as before. 
Reference List. Second Types. 

Thin White Wove Paper. 
Perforated 12. 
1 cent deep dull blue 
3 cents pink, bright rose 



June 4th, 1862. 
\A.ug. 1 8th, 1 86 1. 



ISSUE OF l86l. 



89 



Aug. 30th, 1861. 

Sept. 20th, 1861. 

Oct. 8th, 1861 
Sept. 1 6th, 186 1. 



5 cents pale buff, deep buff, brownish yellow, deep brown- 
ish yellow, mustard, olive-yellow 
10 cents dark green 
12 cents full black 
24 cents^ slate 
30 cents pale orange 
90 cents marine blue 



Variety : 
3 cents bright rose. Imperforate 

In the course of time many other changes in the colors took place, 
some of them at a comparatively early period. A few dates of early can- 
cellations are given. The paper varies from thin to quite thick and the gum 
from brown to yellowish white. 

White Wove Paper. 

Perforated 12. 

1 cent pale dull blue, dull blue, gray-blue, slate-blue, pale 
blue, blue, bright blue, Prussian blue, chalky blue, 
ultramarine, deep ultramarine 
3 cents pale rose, rose (Feb. 28th, 1862), rose-red, deep 
rose-red, brownish rose, pale brown-red, brown- 
red, dull red, carmine-lake, orange-red, scarlet 
5 cents red-brown (June 23rd, 1862), dark red-brown, 
brick red, orange-brown, yellow brown, brown 
(April 10th, 1863), bistre-brown, gray-brown, dark 
brown, black-brown (July i8th, 1863) 

10 cents pale yellow-green, yellow-green (Sept. 4th, 1863), 
dark yellow-green, blue-green (Dec. 21st, 1863) 

12 cents gray-black, gray 

24 cents violet, black-violet, brown-violet, lilac, gray-lilac 
(Aug. nth, 1863), gray, red-lilac, deep red-lilac 

30 cents orange, deep orange 

90 cents pale blue, blue, dark blue, bright blue, indigo 

Varieties : 



3 cents rose. 
3 cents carmine-lake. 
3 cents scarlet. 
3 cents rose, 
^o cents orange 



Imperforate 
Imperforate 
Imperforate 

Impression on the reverse 
ju V.VU1.J uiaugt Imperforate 

The Stamp Collectors Magazine for April, 1867, says the color of the 
5 cents was changed from yellowish to brown in March, 1862. 

I have seen two copies of the 90 cents in a pale ultramarine shade. I 
am inclined to think that they are changelings. 

Many philatelists have claimed that the three cents scarlet is only a 
finished proof, But the fact remains that it was on sale in at least one post 



Color varieties. 



Ninety rents 
ultramarine. 



90 ISSUE OF l86l. — ISSUE OF 1 863 



■5- 



office. Mr. J. W. Scott kindly supplies the following information concerning 
this stamp. The first copy which he saw was on a letter coming from New 
Three cents scarlet. Orleans. As the shade was unusual he desired some of the stamps for his 
stock. Finding they were not on sale at the New York Post Office, he sent 
a dollar to the Postmaster at New Orleans and received its equivalent in 
stamps of the desired shade. These he sold to his customers at about twenty- 
five cents each. Subsequently he sent three dollars to New Orleans and 
received in return an entire sheet of one hundred of the stamps. On sending 
the third time his order was filled with the three cents rose. This would 
. certainly appear to be conclusive evidence of the issue of this stamp in the 
regular way. 

Issue of 1863. 

The Act of Congress, approved March 3rd, 1863, abolished carriers' 
fees and established a prepaid rate of two cents for drop letters. This made 
necessary the issue of a stamp of corresponding value, which took place on 
July 1st of that year. 

The official description of this stamp is as follows : 

"Two cents. A full face of Andrew Jackson fills the entire tablet, 
which is as wide as the stamp, three-fourths of an inch, and only one-sixteenth 
Design. less in its long diameter than the stamp, fifteen-sixteenths of an inch, space 

being left at the top for the words ' u. s. postage ' above the elliptical 
ground, which is cros-hatched. The word ' two ' and the distorted capital 
' u ' in black fill the left lower corner, the word ' cents ' and a distorted 
capital 's' the right. An Arabic ' 2 ' in white is placed in each upper 
corner, inclined outward towards the left and right, respectively, and resting 
upon small black disks. Appropriate scroll decorations complete the upper 
part. The face of Jackson on this stamp is probably after the portrait by 
Dodge." 

The stamp measures 20^2x24^4111111. The paper varies from thin to 
quite thick and the gum from brownish to almost white. 

Reference List. White Wove Paper. 

Perforated 12. 

July 1 st, 1863. 2 cents gray-black, greenish black, full black 

Varieties : 

2 cents gray-black. Imperforate vertically 

2 cents gray-black. Horizontal half, used as one cent 

2 cents gray-black. Diagonal half and another copy, 

used as three cents 
2 cents gray-black. Vertical half and another copy, used 

as three cents 

Most of the bisected stamps bear the cancellations of small towns in 
New York and Connecticut with dates from June to October, 1866, I have 
also heard of a copy cancelled in Butler, Pa., in July, 1864. 



ISSUE OF li 



-ISSUE OF 1866. 



9 1 



At some date between April, 1862, and August, 1867, several values of 
the 1861-63 series were issued on thin laid paper, similar to that used for the 
document revenues. The stamps are found on paper with the vergures close 
together and wide apart and also placed both vertically and horizontally. 

White Laid Paper. 

Perforated 12. 

1 cent deep blue 

2 cents gray-black 
April 12th, 1862. 3 cents dull rose, rose 

5 cents brown 

The two and three cent stamps of this series are occasionally found on 
brown paper and are known to collectors as the "Francis patent" stamps. A 
lengthy account of this patent and the stamps made under it was given in the 
Metropolitan Philatelist for December, 1897. The patent was granted to Dr. 
S. W. Francis, of New York city, and its principal features were soaking the 
paper in an alkaline fluid, which turned it brown, and cancellation by means 
of a small sponge, saturated with some acid and attached to the thumb. A 
touch of this sponge, when handling the letters, would obliterate the stamp. 
On all cancelled copies which I have seen the color of the paper has been 
turned to a deep blue. 

By order of the Third Assistant Postmaster General the National Bank 
Note Co. prepared 10,000 of these stamps. As the Post Office Department 
wished a report from a postmaster upon the practicability of the invention, 
some of the stamps were sent to Newport, R. I., for experiment. Under date 
of March 30th, 1865, the postmaster at Newport wrote to Dr. Francis : 

" I have this day personally tested your method of cancelling postage stamps. After 
thorough and systematic experiments, 1 feel it due you to certify hereby to the valuableness 
of your invention. I shall communicate with the Hon. Third Assistant Postmaster General 
of my experiments." 

This letter is not at all conclusive as to the actual sale to the public or 
the use of the stamps. Yet it would appear that a thorough test of the merits 
of the invention could not otherwise have been attained. A mere demon- 
stration of the efficacy of the cancellation could have been made by any 
one and at any time. I am inclined to believe that the stamps were used for 
a short time and to a limited extent. 



Stamps on laid 
paper. 



Reference List. 



Francis patent ' 
stamps. 



Brown Wove Paper. 

Perforated 12. 

2 cents deep black 
x cents dull brown-red 



Keferenre List, 



Issue of 1866. 



The Act of Congress, approved March 3rd, 1863, also conferred on 
the Postmaster General the power to fix the registration fee at such rate as 
he should deem best, provided it did not, in any case, exceed twenty cents. 



Registration, 



9 2 



ISSUES OF l86l-66. 



In 1866 the rate was fixed at fifteen cents, which made necessary the 
issue of a stamp of like value. It is officially described as follows : 

" Fifteen cents. The portrait of Lincoln appears upon a cross- 
hatched elliptical ground 9-16 by ^ of an inch. On each side of this are 
Design. fasces, and above are the words ' u. s. postage ' in white capitals upon a 

tablet curled at each end, and encircling the number ' 15 '; in Arabic figures, 
in each upper corner ; the figures lean outward to the right and left and back- 
ward. At the bottom, the words 'fifteen cents' in similar letters to those 
above and on a like ground, except that the latter terminates abruptly at the 
ends when reaching the fasces. The letters ' u. s.' in the lower corners 
are in bold-faced white capitals, the letters leaning to correspond with the 
numerals in the upper corners." 

The stamp measures i9^x24^mm. 

The paper is moderately thick and the gum ranges in color from 
brownish to white. 
Uefereiice iJst. White Wove Paper. 

Perforated 12. 

April 15th, 1866. 15 cents full black, gray-black 



Plates ami 
imprints. 



i'lnlr numbers. 



The stamps of the issues of 1861-66 were engraved and printed by the 
National Bank Note Co., New York. The plates each contained two hundred 
stamps, arranged in two panes — ten rows of ten stamps each — placed side by 
side and usually separated by a vertical line, which served as a guide when 
the sheets were cut apart. Most of the plates bore the imprint of the engravers 
at the center of the top, outside edge (before severing) and bottom of each 
pane. So far as known the premieres gravures had the imprint at the bottom 
only, which was also the case with a few of the later plates. The imprints at 
the top and sides were " national bank note CO., new york " in small 
white capitals, on a small colored panel with rounded ends, surrounded by 
two thin colored lines. The imprint at the bottom was " national bank 
note company " in very small white capitals, framed in a rectangle of pearls, 
on a panel of solid color. At the left of the panel were the words "engraved 
by the " and at the right "city of new-york.", all in large colored capitals. 

Below the panel were "No. Plate" in outline letters, with the plate number 

between the words. The number was separately engraved and appears in at 
least two styles of type. 

The numbers of the plates were as follows : 

Issue of 1 86 1. — First Types. 
1 cent No. 1. 



3 cents 


i.1 \J. 

No. 


1 . 


5 cents 


No. 


3 


10 cents 


No. 


4 


1 2 cents 


No. 


5- 


24 cents 


No. 


6. 


30 cents 


No. 


7- 


90 cents 


No. 


8 



ISSUES OF 1861-66. 



93 



Issue of 1861. — Second Types. 

1 cent No. 9, 10, 22, 25, 27. 

3 cents No. 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 32, 33, 

34, 35, 3 6 > 37, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 4*>, 
49, 5 2 , 54, 55- 
5 cents No. 17. 

10 cents No. 15, 26. 

12 cents No. 1 6. 

24 cents No. 6. 

30 cents No. 7. 

90 cents No. iS. 

Issues of 1863 and 1866. 

2 cents No. 28, 29, 30, 31, 50, 51, 53. 
15 cents No. 41. 

The numbers 38, 39 and 40, which are missing from the sequence, are 
those of the stamps for newspapers and periodicals, issued in 1865. Numbers 
56, 57, 58, 59 and 60, quoted in previous lists of plate numbers, belong to 
new plates made for the re-issue of 1875 an d riot to the original series. The 
three cents pink was printed from plate 12, the three cents scarlet from plate 
19, the three cents carmine-lake from plate 34, the imperforate stamps of the 
last shade from plate 52, and the imperforate three cents rose from plate 11. 

On January 23rd, 1867, one hundred sets of the ten denominations of 
this issue were surcharged " Specimen " in " Old English " type. On February 
28th, 1867, the same surcharge was applied to twenty thousand more sets. 
This was done by order of the Third Assistant Postmaster General. A few 
copies have been seen with the final letter of the surcharge inverted. 

The records of the Stamp Agent show that the following quantities of 
stamps were printed and delivered by the contractors. It will be noted that 
the earliest date is August 16th, 1861, which is later than the accepted date 
of issue. It is scarcely probable that any such amount of stamps were printed 
on the date given, but rather that they were the product of several previous 
days, placed on record on that date : 

1861 1 cent. 2 cents. 3 cents. 5 cents 10 cents. 

Aug. 16 1,623,000 3,281,000 32,600 87,800 

" 17 620,500 1,726,000 18,100 50,800 

" 20 368,000 945,000 16,400 50,200 

" 22 14,000 81,000 i,5 c o 12, 800 

" 24 572, 000 1,451,500 18,540 339> 6o ° 

" 28 705,000 1,430,000 6,900 39,900 

" 29 497,000 928,000 28,100 26,200 

" 3 1 3 2 °,4oo 540,00° 4,8co 15,500 

Sept. 1 to Nov. 29 12,577,900 40,752,500 196,340 1,136,590 

Nov. 29 to Dec. 31 3,838,500 12,596,000 92,500 241,100 

1862 47,548,800 182,559,8201,858,220 4,347,040 

1863 36,930,400 28,151,500 243,977,700 992,400 3,226,250 

1864 i,453,57o 50,514,900 314,942,400 963,840 3,672,500 



"Specimen ' 
stamps. 



Statistics of 
manufacture. 



94 



ISSUES OF 1861-66. 



1 cent. 2 cents. 3 cents. 5 cents. 10 cents. 

1865 4,525,700 50,098,500 304,914,550 1,204,820 4,025,200 

1866 7,843,800 51,146,^00 288,912,000 1 134,260 4,135,660 

1867 10,330,000 58,046,700 294,818,700 949,760 4,478,890 
Jan. to Mch. 1868 3,774,400 18,607,900 78,802,700 262,300 1,573,810 

Apl. to June " 222,920 

July to Sept. " 168,820 



Total, 133,542,970 256,566,000 1,772,658,870 8,173,120 27,459,840 



1861 

Aug. 16 

'7 
20 
22 

24 
28 
29 

3 1 

Sept. 1 to Nov. 29 
Nov. 29 to Dec. 3 t 

1862 

1863 

1864 

1865 

1866 

1867 
Jan. to Mch. 1868 
Apl. to June " 
July to Sept. " 



12 cents. 

39.75° 

25,200 

32,700 

1,300 

5'. 7oo 

12,400 

900 

8,900 

2 9S.5 2 5 

57, 3°° 

773,800 

723,570 
1,094,325 

960,275 

938, 8 5 
','93,775 

955,8oo 



15 cents. 



578,460 

1,256,900 

303,940 



24 cents. 
28,250 
17,100 

■2,55° 
1,200 

65,50° 

8r,ooo 

12,050 

9,600 

219,925 

74,°5° 
8.7,250 

i,°9°>9 2 5 
1,706,825 

i,843.34° 

',9 6 9,875 

1,898,850 

110,425 

43,425 
54,850 



30 cents. 
18,260 
10,950 
8,700 

5°o 
5,430 
35,ooo 
'5,05o 
4,600 
71,240 
3 r ,28o 

338,95° 
320,800 

5'3,3 6 o 

522,830 

579,58o 

534,46o 

73,620 

83,910 

55,89° 



90 cents 

3,5°° 
55o 



50 
100 



700 
4,140 

55, 6o ° 
14,830 

29,970 
41,840 
64,860 
69,320 

72,670 
8,280 

7.63° 

10,880 



Total, 7,166,070 2,139,300 10,056,990 3,224,410 384,920 

Beyond doubt a part of the stamps printed in the year 1867 were 
embossed with grills, since stamps so treated were issued in August of that 
year. The records for the two succeeding years carefully specify the respec- 
tive quantities of stamps of each value which were and were not embossed. 
But the records for 1867 are silent on this subject. The statistics just quoted 
are, therefore, misleading, inasmuch as they would lead us to infer that all 
stamps printed in 1867 were without embossing, while we have knowledge to 
the contrary. 

The annual reports of the Postmaster General give the following 
quantities of stamps as having been issued to deputy postmasters from July 
1st, 1861, to June 30th, 1867. It must be remembered that a few stamps of 
the 1857 series may have been issued in July and the early part of August, 
1861, and that stamps without embossing were issued later than June 30th, 
1867. The figures of these reports are, therefore, only approximate and not 
exact : 



ISSUES OF 1861-66. 



95 



St£ 


imps issued d 


unng the hsc; 


u year ending 


June 30th, 181 


52: 


Deliveries to 
postmasters. 






Quarter Ending: 










Sept. 30, 1861. 


Dec. 31, 1 86 1 . 


Mch. 31, 1862. 


June 30, 1862. 


Total. 




i cent 


14,092,800 


1 6,416,400 


15,346,850 


14,165,800 


*6o,02I,250 




3 cents 


3 2 »57o,400 


51,122,100 


51,203,650 


48,844,100 


183,740,250 




5 cents 


312,780 


288,840 


242,040 


185,640 


1,029,300 




10 cents 


','43> r 4o 


1,477,690 


792,090 


645,53o 


4,058,450 




12 cents 


374,9 2 5 


352,825 


181,875 


'37,r25 


1,046,750 




24 cents 


3 r 4,325 


293,975 


193,25° 


182,575 


984,125 




30 cents 


155, 26 ° 


102,520 


68, too 


70,160 


396,040 




90 cents 


13,810 


9,74o 


2,370 


5,020 


30,940 




Whole number of stamps 251 


,307,105. Val 


ue $7,078,188. 


00. 





Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1863 : 

Quarter Ending: 

June 30, 1863. Total. 

16,494,000 68,854,000 

61,367,400 258,993,400 

262,580 2,219,020 

902,040 5,676,150 

160,950 994,675 

267,125 1,144,350 

90,220 434,050 

3,560 24,740 
Whole number of stamps 338,340,385. Value $9,683,394.00. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1864 : 

Quarter Ending: 







Sept. 30, 1862. 


Dec, 31, 1862. 


Mch. 31, 1863, 


1 


cent 


19,810,000 


13,563,7°° 


18,986,300 


3 


cents 


79,213,100 


54,502,900 


63,910,000 


5 


cents 


1,255,120 


417,460 


283,860 


10 


cents 


2,543, 6 70 


1,157,840 


1,072,600 


12 


cents 


436,200 


200,475 


197,050 


24 


cents 


4*4,375 


210,300 


242,550 


3° 


cents 


214,500 


54,290 


75,040 


90 


cents 


6,560 


3,250 


H,37o 





Sept. 


30, 1863. 


Dec, 


.31, 1 863. 


Mch. 31, 1864. 


June 30, 1864. 


Total. 


1 cent 




959,9 J o 




490,700 


289,100 


356,600 


2,096,300 


2 cents 


16 


,562,600 


11 


,588,900 


13,469,700 


12, '53,90° 


53,775, too 


3 cents 


56 


,767,600 


62 


,333, 2 oo 


74,481,000 


78,056,100 


271,637,900 


5 cents 




266,660 




179,300 


263,440 


195,600 


905,000 


10 cents 




589,58° 




662,030 


897,160 


770,460 


2,919,230 


12 cents 




170,325 




'95,250 


314,200 


196,750 


876,525 


24 cents 




257,025 




324,225 


413,15° 


419,525 


h 413,925 


30 cents 




69,57o 




85,970 


i33,86o 


106,500 


395,900 


90 cents 




6,400 




8,640 


10,800 


8,890 


34,73° 



Whole number of stamps 334,054,610. Value $10,177,327.00. 
Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1865 : 
Quarter Ending: 



Sept. 30, 1864. 

1 cent 345,300 

2 cents 1 1,930,500 

3 cents 83,151,200 
5 cents 303,120 



Dec. 31, 1864. Mch. 31, 1865. June 30, 1865. 

462,700 175,200 1,137,600 

12,960,300 14,477,250 12,381,200 

79,388,600 85,933,850 78,039,300 

247,180 275,340 381,440 



Total. 
2,1 20,800 

*49»749, 2 5 

326,512,950 

*i, 207, 180 



9 6 



issues of t86i-66. 



Sept. 30, 1804. 
10 cents 1,049,040 



is cents 
24 cents 
30 cents 
90 cents 



3 7.425 

454,575 

140,540 

22,800 



Dec. 31, 1804. 
955,34° 
275,450 
419,075 
131,960 

9,570 



Mch. 31, 186s. 

1,100,640 

322,900 

480,300 

141,650 

19,490 



June 30, 1865. 

1,061,440 

310,850 

454,400 

156,940 

14,890 



Total. 

4,166,460 

1,216,625 

1,808,350 

571,090 

66,750 



Whole number of stamps 387,419,455. Value $12,099,787.50. 
Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1866: 
Quarter Ending: 





Sept. 30, 1865. 


Dec 


.31, 1865. 


Mch. 31, 1866. 


June 30, 1866. 


Total. 


1 cent 


1,944,000 


1 


,268,900 


2,264,300 


1,973,400 


7,450,600 


2 cents 


1 1,648,600 


1 1 


,291,000 


13,831,600 


10,783,400 


47,554,6oo 


3 cents 


69,479,9 00 


71 


,461,300 


73,911,100 


68,910,000 


283,762,300 


5 cents 


263,600 




284,440 


400,240 


256,200 


1,204,480 


10 cents 


902,000 




962,120 


1,280,750 


91 1,070 


4,055,940 


12 cents 


I9 6 ,5 2 5 




230,000 


365,000 


202,475 


994,000 


15 cents 










166,000 


166,000 


24 cents 


442,575 




466,175 


490,800 


5'2,275 


1,91 1,825 


30 cents 


103,720 




120,520 


167,990 


123,090 


5'5,32o 


90 cents 


15,880 




14,460 


15,210 


8,290 


53,84° 



Whole number of stamps 347,668,905. Value $10,810,355.00. 
Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1867 : 
Quarter Ending: 

Dec. 31, 1866. Mch. 31, 1867. June 30, 1867. 
1,813,500 2,919,300 2,445,100 



Sept. 30, 1866 

1 cent 1,792,600 

2 cents 13,101,500 

3 cents 72,915,600 



5 cents 
10 cents 
12 cents 
15 cents 
24 cents 
30 cents 
90 cents 



240,620 
950,610 
197,125 
213,240 
540,300 

152, 5 IQ 
26,210 



i3>43 , ° 

73,375,3oo 

237,200 

993,240 

■75,25° 
199,220 
426,500 

135,990 
19,610 



15,807,800 

74,088,200 

288,940 

1,202,670 

302,700 

318,380 

550,25° 

161,120 

26,270 



"5,333,ioo 
74,642,800 
198,360 
986,560 
273,125 
318,260 

505,675 

i35-45o 

14,420 



Total 
8,970,500 
57,672,400 

295>o 2I ,9°o 
965,120 

4,i33,o8o 

948,200 

1,049,100 

2,022,725 

585,07° 
86,510 



Whole number of stamps 371,454,605. Value $11,565,357.00. 

At the places marked * there are evidently accountant's or typo- 
graphical errors in the amounts given for some of the quarters, since, in each 
case, the sum of the several quarters does not agree with the total given in 
the report, yet the latter is apparently correct, as it is essential to the grand 
total and value of the stamps issued, as stated in the report. 



Issue of 1867, 



A matter of anxiety to every government is the possible counterfeiting 
or misuse of its securities. In the case of postage stamps there does not seem 
to be so much fear of counterfeiting as that cancellations may be removed precautious aguiust 
and the stamps used again. For many years after stamps came into use in the ° leanin s of 
this country it was customary, in many of the smaller offices, to cancel them 
with pen and ink. It is said that, by aid of chemicals, cancellations of this 
sort are not difficult to remove and it is possible that this was occasionally 
done, though it is to be doubted that it was practiced to any extent. Yet 
much study appears to have been devoted to preventatives of such a possi- 
bility. Collectors of proofs and essays know how numerous were the efforts 
in this direction. In the American Journal of Philately for 1889 (pages 239 
and 485) is given a list of thirty-three patents, designed to prevent the clean- 
ing and re-use of stamps. With one or two exceptions, these patents do not 
appear to have been considered of sufficient merit or practicability to be 
brought into use. Strange to say, the only one which received an extended 
trial, the grill, is omitted from the list. 

The report of the Postmaster General, dated November 26, 1867, says : 

" Experiments are in progress with a postage stamp printed on embossed paper, which 
seems to afford good security against fraud. The fibres of the paper being broken, cancelling 
marks almost necessarily penetrate, so that they cannot easily be removed without destroying 
the stamp. The adhesive properties are also promoted and other advantages secured which 
commend the invention to favorable notice." 

This device is covered by patent No. 70,147, granted to Charles F. Patent for 

Steel, Brooklyn, N. Y., October 22nd, 1867. 5rilli " s stll, " 1,s - 

The recorded description is as follows : 

Patent Postage Stamp. 
No. 70, 147. 

Charles F. Steel, Brooklyn, N, Y. 

October 22d, 1807. 

The paper is gummed, embossed so as to impair its texture in parts, smoothed, and 
printed on portions of its face. In cancelling, the paper in its broken portions absorbs the 
ink, rendering the latter irremovable and preventing the fraudulent second use of the stamp. 

Claim — First, A postage stamp having the paper partly broken, opened, and weakened, 
the use and for the purposes herein set forth. 

Second, In the above, applying the gum or equivalent adhesive material before such 
treatment of the paper, as and for the purposes herein specified. 

Third, In combination with above steps, the flattening of the whole or a portion of 
the surface of the paper prior to the printing operation, as and for the purposes herein 
explained. 

Fourth, Leaving a space which is embossed and partially broken, as indicated, and not 
flattened, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified. 



98 ISSUE OF 1867. 

From the language of the patent we may infer that at the time the 
application was filed it was intended that the embossing should precede the 
printing of the stamps. It is evident that experience soon showed this order 
of manufacture to be impracticable and the following routine was adopted. 
The sheets were printed, gummed, pressed, embossed, perforated and lastly 
pressed under hydraulic pressure of about five hundred tons. This pressure 
was so great as to reduce the embossed portion nearly to the level of the rest 
of the stamp but the important part, the breaks in the paper, remained. 

In this connection the following letter is of some interest : 

New York, Aug. 11, 1868. 
Sir : — 
Transfer of At the instance of the National Bank Note Co. of this city, I beg to advise you that I 

patentee's rights, have granted to that company the sole and exclusive right to manufacture embossed postage 
stamps under my patent for embossed stamps. 

I have the honor to be 

Very respectfully yours, 
Hon. Alex. W. Randall, Chas. F. Steel. 

Postmaster General, 

Washington, D. C. 

The fact that the Government required its postage stamps to be em- 
bossed and that the National Bank Note Co. held the exclusive rights to the 
patent covering this process, had much to do in securing for that company 
the contract of October 3rd, 1868, for the manufacture of postage stamps for 
the four succeeding years. 

The grill is produced by a roller and not, as is generally supposed, by 
a plate. To make this roller, a cylinder of soft steel is placed in a turning 
Process of making lathe and a knurl pressed firmly against it. A knurl, it may be explained, is 
a small steel wheel which is fitted in a clamp and has its rim covered with 
small pyramidal bosses. As the cylinder slowly revolves in the lathe the 
bosses of the knurl are forced into it and produce on its surface similar 
protruberences and depressions. When finished the entire surface of the 
roller is covered with tiny pyramids which form a continuous spiral around it. 
If, while in this shape, it is applied to stamps the variety known as "grilled 
all over " will result. If, however, it is desired to produce the small rectan- 
gular grills it is only necessary to plane off a sufficient number of rows of 
points, in vertical and horizontal bands. 

When in use, the roller rests above a bed of sheet lead into which its 
points press corresponding depressions. When a sheet of stamps is laid upon 
Manner of use. this bed and passed beneath the roller the paper is forced into the depressions 
and embossing is produced. 

The intention of the grill was to break the fibre of the paper, so that 
the cancelling ink would penetrate it instead of merely spreading over the 
Effect or the grill, surface. This result was accomplished in the stamps with grill covering the 
entire surface and those with the large grills, 18x15 an d 13x16mm. But the 
later and smaller forms seem to have been less effective. They rarely pro- 
duced more than a roughening of the surface and, the paper not being 
sufficiently broken, the cancelling ink failed to penetrate it. 

In its first form the grill covered the entire stamp. This process so 

weakened the perforated sheets that they were difficult to handle and when 

sizes of grills. the stamps were torn apart their margins were ragged and unsightly. To 



ISSUE OF 1867. 



99 



remedy this the embossing was reduced to rectangles which covered only a 
part of the surface of each stamp. The size of these rectangles was gradually 
reduced and the impressions, which were at first clear, sharp and deep, became 
fainter and less distinct. The same gradual deterioration is to be noticed in 
the grills of the 1869 issue. In the 1870 issue the number of grills which are 
clear and strong is comparatively small. The majority are faint, uncertain 
in outline, and often show only a single row or a few points. These defects 
are not to be attributed so much to wear of the roller as to insufficient support 
by the leaden bed, to the harder paper used for this series and, possibly, to 
excessive pressure in the hydraulic press. 

The grills were embossed with the points both up and down, as viewed 
from the face of the stamps. The normal position is points up, for the grill 
which covers the entire stamp and for those grills which range from 18x15mm. 
to i2Xi4^ram. These grills are frequently found reversed. The smaller 
sizes (usually grouped as 11x13mm. and 9x13mm.) have the grill with points 
down. These smaller grills are occasionally found with the points up. They 
do not appear to have attracted much attention from philatelists and the only 
one of which I have a memorandum is a three cents with grill 9x13mm. 

There are numerous oddities in the shape of divided, double and 
triple grills. These are liable to occur on any value and with any size of grill. 
They do not seem to be -of sufficient interest to warrant an attempt to list 
them. 

It sometimes happened that a part of a stamp was folded over at the 
time it was being embossed. The result of such an accident is a stamp which 
appears to have parts of two grills, one with points up and the other with 
points down. I have in my collection a three cent stamp which has been so 
folded that it appears to have parts of five or six grills. 

There is also known an oddity in the stamps embossed all over This 
is a strip of stamps from the top row of a sheet of the three cents, which ap- 
pears to have the embossing, on the upper half of the stamps and on the mar- 
gin with the points down while on the remainder of the stamps the points are 
up. Examination with a strong magnifying glass shows that the embossing 
with points up was first applied but failed to cover the upper half of the 
stamps of this row. To remedy this the embossing process was repeated. 
But in the second operation the sheet was reversed, bringing the points of the 
grill down. Thus a part of each stamp is really embossed with points both 
ways but, to the unaided eye, the effect is as at first stated. To a similar ac- 
cident we owe a horizontal pair of three cent stamps on which the grill covers 
the whole of one stamp but only half of the other. 

There is one variety of grill which has attracted much attention. This 
variety shows a strip of embossing extending from top to bottom of the stamp 
and varying in width. This is an impression from a continuous band of 
bosses which encircled the grill roller at each end. Probably these bands 
were intended to maintain a firm hold on the sheet of stamps and prevent it 
from slipping. It was only when a sheet was incorrectly placed, while being 
embossed, that this variety occurred. So far, it has only been found on the 
stamps of the 1870 issue, but impressions on the margins of sheets of the 

L.ofC. 



Points up and 
points down. 



Oddities of 
srillins. 



Marginal grills. 



IOO ISSUE OF 1867. 

1867 and 1869 issues show it to have existed on the rollers in use at those 
dates and its existence on the stamps is, therefore, a possibility. 

The date at which the grilled stamps came into use is unsettled. The 
American Journal of Philatelv for June, 1871 (page 67) gives the date as 
Date of Issue. August 8th, 1 867. Tiffany's History of the Postage Stamps of the United States 
says "adopted May 8th, 1867." The date of the patent is Oct. 22nd, 1867, 
but that is presumably the date on which it was granted and the process may 
have been put into use earlier. The first mention of the grilled stamps in a 
philatelic magazine is in the Stamp Mercury for Nov. 25th, 1867, which says : 
" The three cent stamps, and we suppose the others also, are now embossed 
in little squares over the face." It is scarcely probable that so important a 
change could have been effected without attracting prompt attention and it 
is possible that the date of issue is very near to that of the above notice. On 
the other hand, if at first issued in small quantities and as an experiment 
(such a claim is made and has the support of some slight evidence) some time 
may have elapsed before the stamps met the attention of philatelists, though 
scarcely so long as from May to November. There is in the collection of Mr. 
H. E. Deats a pair of the three cents grilled all over, on the original cover and 
cancelled "Savannah, Ga. Aug. 23, 1867." All things considered, August 
8th, 1867, seems a very probable date. 

In April, 1S68, the Stamp Mercury chronicled the two, three and 
twelve cents with the grill. The American Journal of Philately for May, 

1868 (page 23), says : " All the values under twelve cents are now submitted 
to this process as also will the higher denominations be when the present 
stock on hand is consumed." The same journal, in December of that year 
(page 82), says : "The 24 and 30 cents of the present issue have at length 
been issued with the rectangular embossment on the backs and we learn from 
official quarters that the 90 cents will be subjected to the same treatment this 
month." But it was not until February, 1869 (page 23), that the editor was 
able to report the appearance of the latter value. 

In the Philatelic Journal of America for May, 1889, we find the 
announcement of the discovery of a copy of the thirty cents with grill cover- 
Five and thirty ing the entire stamp. The five cents with that variety of grill was first 
Ce "n S vei- Ie ' 1 chronicled in the American Journal of Philately for July, 189 1. Several 
copies of each of these stamps have since been found. 

The one cent also exists with the grill covering the entire stamp. I 
One cent grilled have seen an unused block of four in this condition. I have no doubt as to 
ail over. the genuineness of the grill but I am not certain that the stamp was ever 

issued for use. 

The paper varies from moderately thick to very thin. Beginning with 
the former quality, for the stamps embossed with large grills, it gradually 
Paper. decreases in thickness as the grills are reduced in size, until those of the 

smaller dimensions are, many of them, on an extremely thin and brittle paper. 
The paper at first in use was slightly soft but it became harder as it lost in 
thickness and the quality last in use was very hard and crisp. 

The gum is white, yellowish and occasionally almost brown. 

I have carefully examined and measured all the stamps of the following 



ISSUE OF 1867. 



IOI 



list. The list has been elaborated from one compiled by Mr. J. B. Leavy 
and published in the American Journal of Philately for April, 1896, some 
new discoveries and a number of varieties in my own collection being added. 



1 cent blue 
3 cents rose, rose-red 
5 cents dark brown 
30 cents orange 



Grill with Points Up. 
Grill covering the entire stamp. 

12^x12 points to the 10mm. 



Variety : 

3 cents rose-red. Imperforate 

Rectangular Grill. 













Rows of Points. 


Size in mm. 


3 cents rose 










22x18 


18x15 


3 cents rose-red 










17x20 


13x16 


3 cents rose 










17x19 


13X15^ 


3 cents rose 










17x18 


13x14^ 


3 cents rose 










16x2 I 


12^x16^ 


3 cents rose 










16x20 


11^2x16 


3 cents rose, rose 


-red 








16x19 


12^x15^ 


3 cents rose 










16x18 


12^x14^ 


3 cents rose 










15x18 


12X14*4 








Variety : 






3 cents rose-red. 


Im 


perforate. 




16x19 


12^x15^ 






Grill 


WITH 


Points 


Down. 





3 cents rose 

5 cents dark brown 



Grill covering the entire stamp. 

12^x12 points to the 10 mm. 

U w It u 

Rectangular Grill. 



3 cents rose 

2 cents black 

3 cents rose 
3 cents rose 

2 cents black 

3 cents rose 
3 cents rose 

1 cent bright blue 

2 cents gray-black 

3 cents rose-red, lake 
12 cents black 

1 cent light blue, dark blue 

2 cents gray-black 
3 cents rose, rose-red, brown-rose, lake 



17x19 


i3 x iS^ 


15x19 


12x15 

a 


15x18 


12x14*% 


a 


I4J/2XI4 


a 


a 


i5 XI 7 


n; 2 xi3>2 


1 4X 1 8 


11x14 



14x17 



11x13^4 



Reference List. 



T02 



ISSUE OF 1867. 



14x15 



13x17 

a 

13x16 
12x18 



Rows of points. 
5 cents brown 14x17 

10 cents dark green, blue-green 
12 cents black, gray-black 
15 cents black 

1 cent pale blue 14x16 

2 cents black 

3 cents pale rose, rose, rose-red, lake 
10 cents dark green 

12 cents black 

15 cents gray-black 

1 cent deep blue 

3 cents rose 
10 cents blue-green 

1 cent dull blue 
3 cents rose-red 
3 cents rose 

2 cents black 

3 cents rose 

12 cents gray-black • " 

15 cents gray-black 

1 cent pale blue, deep blue, dark blue, pale ultramarine 12x17 

2 cents greenish black, gray-black " 

3 cents rose, rose-red, brown-red, lake 

5 cents yellow-brown, red-brown, brown, dark brown, 

black-brown " 

10 cents blue-green, yellow-green 

12 cents black, gray-black ' 

15 cents black, gray-black, greenish black 
24 cents gray-lilac " 

30 cents pale orange, deep orange " 

90 cents deep blue 

1 cent bright blue, pale blue, dark blue 12x16 

2 cents gray-black " 

3 cents rose, rose-red, brown-red " 
5 cents yellow-brown, dark brown " 

10 cents blue-green " 

12 cents black " 

15 cents gray-black 

24 cents gray-lilac, gray " 

30 cents orange " 

3 cents rose-red 12x15 

3 cents rose 11x17 

2 cents gray-black 11x16 

3 cents rose-red " 

Varieties : 



Size in mm. 
11x13^ 



11x13 



11x12 
a 

it 

10x13^ 

11 

10x13 

9 X '4 

1 

u 
u 

9x13^ 



9x13 



9x12 
8^x13^ 
8Kxi 3 



3 cents rose-red. Imperforate 



12x17 



9 X '3^ 



ISSUE OF 1867. 



IO- 



Rows of points. Size in mm. 

3 cents rose-red. Imperforate horizontally 12x17 9x13}^ 
2 cents black. Vertical half and another copy, used 

as three cents 14*17 IIxr 3^ 

I have in my collection an interesting oddity in the shape of a fifteen 
cents (with grill 12x17 rows of points, measuring 9x13% mm.) printed in 
blackish purple. This can scarcely be called an error of color, as no value Fifteen cents 
of the series was printed in that color. It was probably caused by the plate '^ackish purple 
being wiped with a cloth that had been used for the same purpose on a plate 
inked with purple. 

The records show the following quantities of stamps to have been 
printed and delivered to the Stamp Agent : 

1868 1 cent 2 cents 5 cents 5 cents 

Jan. to Mch. 1,489,800 14,400,200 42,864,700 

Apl. to June 3,219,800 15,475,900 47,431,400 

July to Sept. 2,814,600 14,558,400 76,486,200 ....... 

Oct. to Dec. 3,004,200 16,405,700 80,855,700 174,960 



10 cents_ 

671,770 

1,281,720 

854,i5 
940,200 



Statistics of 
manufacture. 



Jan. to Mch. 
Apl. to June 
July to Sept. 



3,35 r > 2 °° 
475, 3°° 



15,718,900 74,266,200 



290,520 902,12,0 

149,180 639,410 

67,520 



Total 14,354,900 76,559,100 321,904,200 682,180 5,289,380 



Jan. to Mch. 
Apl. to June 
July to Sept. 
Oct. to Dec. 



12 cents 
639,100 

759,^75 
624,800 
703,600 



15 cents 

206,420 
333,340 

428,420 



24 cents 



68,775 



o cents 



74,210 



qo cents. 



8,360 



Jan. to Mch. 
Apl. to June 
July to Sept. 



810,925 
48,000 



706,420 
489,580 
372,180 



62,275 
46,050 
57,o75 



Total 3,585,600 2,536,360 234,175 



69,940 

53,73° 
84,860 

282,740 



11,310 
4,400 
6,75° 

30,820 



At the foot of this record is a memorandum of the following quantities stamps destroyed, 
of stamps "burned by Stamp Agent :" 

3 cents, 400,000; 5 cents, 424,100; 15 cents, 3,040; 24 cents, 268,450; 
30 cents, 73,100; 90 cents, 123,930. 

No date is given for this destruction nor any information as to the 
proportionate quantities of the stamps with and without embossing. 

It will be observed that stamps of the 1867 series continued to be 
printed long after the 1869 issue was in use. 

The annual reports of the Postmaster General supply the following 
statistics of stamps distributed to deputy postmasters: 



104 



ISSUE OF 1867. 



Deliveries to 




St 


amps issued ( 


luring the nsc; 


n year ending 


June 30th, i£ 


;68 : 


postmasters. 
























Quarter Ending: 












Sept, 30, 1867. 


Dec. 31, 1867. 


Mch. 31, 1868. 


June 30, 1868. 


Total. 




I 


cent 


2,163,300 


2,805,300 


3,774,400 


3,219,800 


11,962,800 




2 


cents 


12,594,000 


'4,35 6 > 8o ° 


18,607,900 


15, 475, 9°° 


60,989,600 




3 


cents 


71,696,900 


74,390,800 


78,802,700 


74,431,400 


299,321,800 




5 


cents 


192,860 


269,400 


262,300 


222,920 


947,480 




10 


cents 


i.093,73 


'» '95,93° 


i,573, 8 '° 


1,281,720 


5,'45, I 9° 




12 


cents 


201,075 


416,875 


995,800 


759,175 


2,372,9 2 5 




15 


cents 


295,900 


3 2 4,3 6 o 


303,94° 


206,420 


1,130,620 




24 


cents 


476,225 


366,700 


1 10,425 


43>425 


996,775 




30 


cents 


107,520 


i3o,37° 


73,620 


83,910 


395,420 




90 


cents 


18,430 


13,55° 


8,280 


7,630 


47,890 



Plates. 



Plate numbers. 



Whole number of stamps 383,310,500. Value $1 1,736,264.00. 
Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1869: 
Quarter Ending : 





Sept. 30, 1868. 


Dec. 31, 1868. 


Mch. 31, 1869. 


June 30, i860 


Total. 


1 cent 


2,814,600 


3,004,200 


3,736,6oo 


4,043,400 


13,598,800 


2 cents 


i4,55 8 ,4o° 


16,405,700 


18,1 11,900 


18,115,450 


67,191,450 


3 cents 


76,486,200 


80,855,700 


84,327,500 


87,008,000 


328,677,400 


5 cents 


168,820 


174,960 


290,520 


149,180 


783,480 


6 cents 






60,200 


1,085,750 
928,270 


1,145,95° 
3,730,180 


10 cents 


854,150 


940,200 


1,007,560 


12 cents 


624,800 


703,600 


917,050 


817,900 


3,063,350 


15 cents 


233,34° 


428,420 


784,160 


606,700 


2,052,620 


24 cents 


54,850 


68,675 


93,225 


77,65° 


294,400 


30 cents 


55,890 


74,210 


86,650 


89,980 


306,730 


90 cents 


10,880 


8,360 


16,330 


16,610 


52,180 



Whole number of stamps 420,896,540. Value $12,706,220.00. 

When we remember that there were no six cent stamps in the issue of 
1867 nor five cent stamps in that of 1869, we at once perceive that the two 
issues are hopelessly mixed in the foregoing table and that it is of little value 
to philatelists. 

The plates of the 1861-66 issues were used for the stamps of the 1867 
issue. The following list is probably incomplete but it contains all the num- 
bers that I have seen or that have been chronicled. It has not been found 
possible to secure minute measurements of the grills on many of the stamps and 
we will, therefore, have to be content with the grouping of sizes adopted in 
the priced catalogues. 

Grill covering the entire stamp. 

1 cent blue No. 

3 cents rose No. 11, 52 

5 cents brown No. 17 

30 cents orange No. 7 



ISSUE OF 1867. 



io 5 



3 cents rose. 

3 cents rose 
3 cents rose 
3 cents rose. 

2 cents black 

3 cents rose 



Variety : 
Imperforate 
Grill 18x15 mm. 

Grill 13x16 mm. 

Variety : 
Imperforate 
Grill 11 ^2x14 mm. 



Grill 11x13 mm. 



1 cent blue 

2 cents black 

3 cents rose 

5 cents brown 
10 cents green 
12 cents black 
15 cents black 

1 cent blue 

2 cents black 

3 cents rose 

5 cents brown 
10 cents green 
12 cents black 
15 cents black 
24 cents lilac 
30 cents orange 
90 cents blue 



Grill 9x13 mm. 



Varieties 



3 cents rose. Imperforate 



No. 52 



No. 



No. 



14 



No. 14 



JNo. 










No. 










No. 










No. 


29 








No. 


36 








No. 


17 








No. 










No. 


16 








No. 


41 








No. 


10, 


22, 


27 




No. 


28, 


3°, 


5°. 


5 1 - S3 


No. 


", 


3 2 > 


34, 


55 


No. 


17 








No. 


15, 


26 






No. 


16 








No. 


4i 








No. 


6 








No. 


7 








No. 


18 









No. 55 



3 cents rose. Imperforate horizontally No. 55 

The fact that many of the grilled stamps are rarer than the same 
values without the grill has tempted counterfeiters to imitate the embossment. 
This has been done with more or less success. Except for imitations of the coun t e rfeitinff grills. 
grill covering the entire stamp the 1867 issue has not suffered greatly from 
the efforts of the counterfeiters. The stamps of the 1869 issue are rarer with- 
out than with the embossing and, consequently, have been but little tampered 
with. The 1870 issue has been the chosen field for most of the fraudulent 
operations, both because many of the grilled stamps of that issue are rare 
while those ungrilled are plentiful and because the generally poor embossing 
of that period renders the detection of the counterfeits very difficult. 



io6 



ISSUE OF 1867. 



Size and position 
not a test. 



There is no absolute rule by which the genuine grills may be known 
from the bad. The best guide is experience, gained by careful study of 
specimens which are undoubtedly genuine. Size is not a guide, as may be 
inferred from an examination of the list on a preceding page. Neither is 
position a test. It has been asserted that genuine grills always have their 
sides parallel with the sides of the stamps. But this is manifestly incorrect. 
The sheets of stamps, when laid on the bed of the grill machine, might easily 
be placed askew, as we know was done in the case of the stamps which show 
a band of embossing. It may be remarked, en passant, that the lines of grill 
points in this band are usually somewhat out of the perpendicular. As was 
noted in describing the grill roller, the rows of points form a spiral around 
the roller. While this spiral deviates but little from the perpendicular, it 
still deviates and the claim of absolute perpendicularity for the grill becomes 
untenable. 

The general characteristics of all grills are the same. The bosses 
Characteristics of which produced them are pyramidal in shape and their effect is to break tiny 
genuine grills, crosses (x) in the paper. On a few grills the breaks assume a slightly dif- 
ferent shape, thus >— ; . 

The grills with the points up present, on the face of the stamps, the ap- 
pearance of a series of small squares, denned by depressed vertical and hori- 
zontal lines. Within the squares the paper has been pushed up by the bosses 
and broken. Viewed from the reverse the appearance is the exact opposite, 
the lines of the squares being raised and those within them depressed. On 
the reverse also, the breaks produced by the bosses show more distinctly the 
shape of crosses, which shape becomes more pronounced with the introduc- 
tion of harder paper and smaller grills. The grills with points down have the 
same general appearance but, of course, reversed. 

The grills of the 1869 and 1870 issues were made by the same process 
as those of the 1861 issue, but from differences in the paper, wearing of the 
machinery, and ever lessening care in manufacture, the characteristic marks 
are much less distinct and often quite invisible. Many of the grills on the 
1870 issue are little more than pin pricks. 

The counterfeit grills, as a rule, fail to reproduce the markings of the 
originals, especially the crosses in the squares. Many of them are simply a 
series of small square depressions in the paper, having the intervening spaces 
quite out of proportion, as compared with originals. There is, however, 
a genuine type of the grill covering the entire stamp which presents the ap- 
pearance of small squares with still smaller depressed squares in their centres, 
but having otherwise the ordinary characteristics of the grills. This variety 
is found only on the three cent stamp and is due to a few of the earliest 
impressions having been made against a backing of cardboard. This was too 
hard and did not permit the bosses to penetrate the paper. So a backing of 
lead was adopted and the grills with cross-shaped breaks were obtained. 
Except in this instance, a square grill, instead of a cross, may without hesita- 
tion be pronounced a counterfeit. 

Grills too strongly embossed should be regarded with suspicion. The 
flattening effect of the hydraulic press must not be overlooked. 



(■rills which lack 
the x breaks. 



ISSUE OF 1867. 107 

Cancellations are also a test in many cases. When the ink was thin 
it usually penetrated the breaks in the paper and may be distinctly seen on 
the reverse of the stamp. When, on the contrary, it was thick it covered Cancellations 
only the raised parts of the grill and the depressed places were left untouched. 
In this connection may be mentioned a clever counterfeit, made from a three 
cent stamp with a genuine grill measuring 9x13 mm., to which has been added 
a fraudulent embossing covering the entire stamp. Because a portion of the Grill fraudulently 
grill shows the genuine markings and the cancellation covering the raised 
parts the balance is apt to be accepted as genuine. Examination shows the 
grill in different parts of the stamp to be quite dissimilar in character. When 
the stamp is viewed in a certain light the rectangle of genuine grilling stands 
out distinctly from the fraudulent part. 

In the case of uncancelled stamps the character of the grill, the gum, 
and the shades of the printing ink must supply the tests. 

The grills of the 1867 issue all measure 12^x12 rows of points to the 
10 mm. 



Issue of 18 

The issue of 1869 was preceded by a contest, both in and out of Con- 
gress, many details of which may be found in a file of the Congressional Globe- 
Historical. Messrs. Butler & Carpenter, of Philadelphia, protested against the awarding 

of the contract to the National Bank Note Co., of New York, on the ground 
that their firm had made the lowest bid. A commission was appointed to 
investigate the claim and the relative merits of the bids of the two companies. 
The commisssion reported in favor of the National Bank Note Co. and, on 
October 3d, 1868, the contract was awarded in accordance with this finding. 
As was mentioned on page 98, the control of the embossing patent had much 
to do with securing this award. 

By the terms of the contract the stamps were to be ready February 1st, 
1869. They were not ready, however, unlil March of that year, and then 
Date of issue. were only issued to postmasters as the stock of stamps of the 1861-66 types 
was exhausted. They made their appearance in the latter part of April. 
Mr. Tiffany gives the date of the issue as March 19th, 1869, but elsewhere 
says : " About the end of April they began to appear." Possibly some were 
issued to postmasters on March 19th, but with restrictions as to their use, as 
set forth in the following circular : 

Post Office Department. 

Finance Office, March 1st, 1869. 
Sir : — 

At an early day, in the regular course of business, the Department will issue to Post- 
Circular anuouuc- masters stamps of new designs. (See description annexed). In the proposed issue the six 
ins the issue. cen * s ' am P ' s substituted for the five cents. You are required to exhaust all of the present 
style on hand, before supplying the public with tine new ; and in no case will you be allowed 
to make exchanges for individuals, or to return stamps to the Department to be exchanged. 
The stamps now in use are not to be disregarded, but must be recognized in all cases equally 
with the new ones. 

Special attention is called to the fact that sheets of all denominations below is cents 
contain 1 so stamps. The 15 cents and all higher denominations contain 100 stamps on each 
sheet. This must be borne in mind to prevent mistakes in counting, as in the present issue 
each denomination has but 100 stamps to the sheet. Special requests for the new style of 
stamps will be disregarded until the stock of the present issue in possession of the Depart- 
ment is exhausted. Due notice will be given of the date of issue of any new design of 
stamped envelopes, therefore all inquiries respecting them will be disregarded. 

A. N Zeverly, 
Third Assistant Postmaster General. 

Apparently all the values were on sale by about the middle of May, as 

Changes iu the tne American Journal of Philately for May 20th, 1869 (pages 57 and 58), 

designs and colors, gives a brief description and criticism of each value and says: "The 



ISSUE OF 1869 IO9 

unqualified praise we bestowed on the new issue in our first accounts was due 
to it having been given from an inspection of the proofs, and those are always 
worked off with great care ; the colors also were much better selected than 
those adopted by the authorities. Besides the tints being changed, all the 
designs were more or less altered by enlarging the figures, and in the case of 
the thirty cents a totally different design was adopted." 

The designs, as originally prepared, differed from those finally accepted 
and issued in having much smaller numerals of value, which were more in 
harmony with their surroundings and not so obtrusive and disproportionate. Original designs. 
There was a five cent stamp of the design that was afterwards used for the 
six cents ; the ten cents bore a portrait of Lincoln and the ninety cents that 
of Washington ; the thirty cents was of similar style to the fifteen and twenty- 
four cents, with a copy of the picture of the surrender of Burgoyne. It was 
not the intention to print any of these stamps in two colors. All the values 
of this set except the fifteen and ninety cents exist in the shape of fully 
finished, gummed and perforated stamps. 

The official description of the adopted designs and colors is as follows: Designs and colors. 

" One cent. Head of Franklin, after bust by Cerrachi, looking to 
the left, surrounded by a circle of pearls; ' u. s. postage ' on a curved tablet 
at the top; ' one cent ' on two similar tablets at bottom, with the numeral ' 1 
in a small panel between the words. Color, Roman ochre. 

Two cents. Post horse and rider, facing to left, surrounded by 
ornamental scroll-work ; ' united states postage ' on a fringed curtain at 
top; ' two cents ' on a scroll at bottom, with large numeral ' 2 ' between the 
words. Color, light brown. 

Three cents. Locomotive heading to the right, surrounded by orna- 
mental scroll-work ; 'united states postage' on a curved and a horizontal 
tablet at top ; ' three cents ' on wide curved tablets at bottom, with large 
numeral ' 3 ' between the words. Color, ultramarine blue. 

Six cents. Head of Washington, after Stuart's painting, three-quarter 
face, looking to right ; frame square, tessellated near the corners, with a 
circular opening, lined with pearls; ' u. s.' in upper left and right corners of 
frame, respectively; the word ' postage ' in upper bar of frame; ' six cents ' 
in lower, with the large numeral ' 6 ' between the words, and ' united states ' 
on each side. Color, ultramarine blue. 

Ten cents. Shield, on which is resting an eagle with outspread 
wings, eagle looking to left; 'united states postage ' in upper section of 
shield; the number '10' in lower; the words 'ten cents' in a scroll at 
bottom; the whole design surmounted by thirteen stars arranged in a semi- 
circle. Color, orange. 

Twelve cents. Ocean steamship, surrounded by ornamental scroll- 
work ; ' united states postage ' at top; ' twelve cents ' at bottom, with 
large numeral ' 12 ' between the words. Color, milori green. 

Fifteen cents. Landing of Columbus, after the painting by Van- 
derlyn, in the Capitol at Washington ; ornamental scroll-work at top and 



HO ISSUE OF 1869. 

bottom ; ' u. s. postage ' at top ; ' fifteen cents ' at bottom, with numeral 
' 15 ' underneath. Colors : Picture, Prussian blue ; scroll and ornamental 
work, light brown. 

Twenty-four cents. Declaration of Independence, after the paint- 
ing by Trumbull, in the Capitol at Washington ; ornamental and scroll work 
at top and bottom; ' u. s.' surrounded by ovals at upper left and right 
corners, respectively; the word 'postage' between the two; 'twenty-four 
cents ' in scroll at bottom, with numeral '24' underneath. Colors: The 
picture, purple lake ; scroll and ornamental work, light milori green. 

Thirty cents. Eagle, facing to left with outspread wings, resting on 
shield, with flags grouped on either side ; the words ' u. s. postage ' in upper 
section of shield; the numeral '30' in lower; the words 'thirty cents' 
across the bottom ; thirteen stars arranged in a semicircle at top of design. 
Colors : Eagle and shield, carmine ; flags and other parts, blue. 

Ninety cents. Head of Lincoln, from a photograph, in an oval, 
three-quarters face, looking to right, surrounded by ornamental and scroll 
work ; numeral ' 90 ' at each of the upper corners ; ' u. s. postage ' at top of 
oval ; ' ninety ' and ' cents ' in scroll at lower left and right corners of oval, 
respectively; ' u. s.' at lower left and right corners of stamp, respectively. 
Colors: Portrait in black; surrounding ornamental and scroll work, carmine." 
The sizes of the stamps are: One cent, 2o^x2oj(mm.; two cents, 
sizes. 20/4x2omm.; three cents, 20^x2oram.; six cents, 2oxi9^mm.; ten cents, 

20x19;^ mm.; twelve cents, 2oj(x2oram.; fifteen cents, 2 1^x21% mm.; twenty- 
four cents, 22x22mm.; thirty cents, 22X22^mm.; ninety cents, 21^x22111111. 
The lower values were intended to be emblematic of the postal progress 
of the country. The one cent stamp fittingly bore the portrait of Franklin, 
Purport of the the first colonial Postmaster General, also the first under the federation of 
designs. states which became the United States. The two, three and twelve cent 

stamps illustrated the advance from the post boy on horseback to the facilities 
afforded by the railway and ocean steamship. 

There are three types of the fifteen cents. In type I the central 
picture is surrounded by a frame of three parallel lines. Across the top of 
Types of the the picture the middle line of the three is thicker than the other two and at 
tifteen cents. the middle of the top the lines form a diamond-shaped ornament. This type 
is usually spoken of as "with diamond" or "picture framed." In type I 
there is also, within the space for the picture, a band about ^mm. wide, 
formed of short diagonal lines. This band extends across the bottom and 
the two ends of the tablet but not across the top. In type II the frame lines 
and the diamond are omitted. There is a band of lines, as in type I, but it 
is 1 mm. wide, the lines are horizontal and the band extends all around the 
inside of the tablet. Type III differs from type II in the absence of the 
band of shading lines, of which only a solitary line remains, crossing the top 
of the tablet where the outline curves up to a point under the " t " of 
"postage." The object of the bands of lines was to form a background for 
the picture and make less noticeable any slight misplacing of it. Type I was 
the first issued. Type III is only known in the re-issue of 1875. 



ISSUE OF 1869. Ill 

The medallions of the fifteen, twenty-four and ninety cents are each 
surrounded by a thin line of color. These lines were not on the original dies, 
but were added separately to each subject on the various plates. Also, on the Additional lines 
twenty-four cents, the space for the medallion is framed by a border of pearls plates 

inside of which are two thin colored lines. These lines were not on the die, 
but were added in the same manner as those surrounding the medallions. I 
have seen a proof having three lines inside the border of pearls but I have 
not found a stamp showing more than two lines. 

The paper is moderately thick and quite hard. 

The gum varies from yellowish-white to brown. 

The grill has the same characteristics as in the 1867 issue but it is 
smaller and nearly square. Complete sets of all values may be found with 
the grill measuring 9X9^mm., 12x12 rows of points, and 9x9mm., 12x11 Sizes of the grill. 
rows of points. The ten and twelve cents are also known with a grill measur- 
ing 8^x9mm,, iixn rows of points. The normal position of the grill is with 
the points down but a few copies have been noticed which have the points up. 

White Wove Paper. Reference List. 

Perforated 12. 
Embossed with a Grill. 

April, 1869. 1 cent pale brown-orange, brown-orange, dark brown- 

orange 

2 cents yellow-brown, red-brown, pale brown, brown, 

dark brown 

3 cents ultramarine, deep ultramarine, dull blue, gray- 

blue 
6 cents pale ultramarine, deep ultramarine, dull blue 

1 o cents yellow-orange, orange, deep orange 

1 2 cents yellow-green, green, deep green, blue-green 

15 cents (type I), dark blue and dark red-brown, dark 
blue and red-brown, dark blue and pale red-brown 

15 cents (type II), dark blue and dark red-brown, dark 
• blue and red-brown, dark blue and pale red-brown 

24 cents dark violet and yellow-green, dark violet and deep 
yellow-green, dark violet and blue-green 

30 cents pale rose and pale ultramarine, rose and ultra- 
marine, rose arid dark ultramarine, dark rose and 
ultramarine, dark carmine and dull ultramarine 

90 cents black and carmine, black and rose-carmine 

Varieties : 
2 cents yellow brown. Diagonal half and another copy, 
used as three cents 

2 cents yellow brown. Vertical half and another copy, 

used as three cents. Cancelled, December 25th, 
1869 

3 cents ultramarine. Vertical two-thirds, used as two 

cents. Cancelled, April 2nd, 1870 



I ! 2 



ISSUE OF 1869. 



Inverted 
medallions. 



15 cents (type I), dark blue and red-brown. Medallion 

inverted 
24 cents dark violet and blue-green. Medallion inverted 
30 cents rose and ultramarine. Flags inverted 

1 cent brown-orange. Without grill 

2 cents yellow-brown. Without grill 

3 cents pale ultramarine, dull blue. Without grill 
15 cents (type II), dark blue and red-brown. Without 

grill 
?4 cents dark violet and blue-green. Without grill 
30 cents carmine-rose and dull ultramarine. Without grill 
90 cents deep black and deep carmine. Without grill 

The stamps which have a part of the design inverted are both rare and 
interesting. Tiffany's History of the Postage Stamps of the United States says 
in regard to this variety of the fifteen cents : 

" The error is not, as is sometimes supposed, an error in printing, but 
in the plate. Two plates, one for each color, had to be used. Originally 
said to be errors there were 150 stamps, as in the smaller values, but upon the plate for print- 
in the plate. j n g ^ pi cturej ft j s SSL {^ one picture was reversed, and the error once dis- 
covered, the plate was cut down to print only 100 stamps, as stated in the 
circular. It is probable that no copies with the error were ever circulated." 

The same work says of the twenty-four cents : 

" There is the same error of this stamp, ' reversed picture,' stated to be 
from the same cause, a defect in the plate, as for the 15 cents, and the same 
remarks apply." 

Also of the thirty cents it is stated : 

" There is also an error of this stamp in which the flags are reversed. 
It is also stated to be an error on the plate, but may be only an error in 
printing." 

These statements appear to lack confirmation. The records of the con- 
tractors show that the plates for the four values which were printed in two 
colors, were originally made with only one hundred designs on each. This 
smaller size was adopted because of the difficulty of securing good " register- 
ing " when printing with large plates. The official circular of March 1st, 1869, 
quoted on a previous page, and which was sent out before the stamps were 
ready for issue, distinctly states : "The 15 cents and all higher denomina- 
tions, contain roo stamps on each sheet." 

The claim that none of the errors were circulated would seem to be 
fully refuted by the fact that the majority of the existing copies are used. 

Of course it is not impossible that, on one of the plates for each value, 
one of the designs was reversed but it is far more probable that all of the errors 
Proof that they are are due to misprinting. I have seen sheets of proofs from many of the plates 
errors in printing. Q ^ ^q bicolored stamps and none of them contain such an error. It is well 
known that David H. Anthony, of New York, an agent of the Government 
for the sale of revenue stamps, and who also sold the then current postage 
stamps, had an entire sheet of the fifteen cents with the medallion inverted. 
One copy was purchased of him and went into the Rasmus collection. The 



Evidence to the 
contrary. 



ISSUE OF 1869. 



"3 



rest of the sheet was returned to the post office and exchanged for perfect 
copies. There is also the celebrated block of four of the twenty-four cents 
in the collection of Mr. William Thorne and the pair of the same stamp in 
the collection of Mr. F. W. Hunter. Thus at least a part of the errors are 
proved to be due to misprinting. 

On the other hand, there is some testimony in support of the claim that 
one or more of the designs, on the various plates, were inverted. In the 
American Journal of Philately for December 1870 (page 141), we read : 

" We are now enabled to inform our readers, and friends of the press, of a little cir- 
cumstance that has been kept pretty well concealed ; but perhaps these few lines may open 
the eyes of the people who pay the taxes. 

After a few hundred sheets of the m and 24 cent stamps of the 1869 issue had been 
delivered, it was discovered that a few of the stamps on each sheet had the picture inverted 
in the frames. The government refused to receive them, and only half sheets of these values 
were issued. This mistake would have compelled the company to prepare new plates for 
these values, and of course they would not have been paid for them, so they adopted the 
bright dodge of setting the papers to run down the new issue, so that they would be required 
to get new plates by the'department, which they would be paid for. We all know how well 
they succeeded ; however, to philatelists this makes two interesting varieties which are very 
scarce." 

In further confirmation of this Mr. J. W. Scott states that, at the time 
attention was first called to the fifteen cents with inverted medallion, he 
examined his stock and found half a dozen used copies. Believing it to be 
an error in the plate, he tried to buy at the New York post office sheets con- 
taining it, but could get only half sheets, which were without it. He then 
sent money throughout the country, to all offices which he thought might have 
this value, asking always for full sheets. In some instances his money was 
returned because the office could only supply half sheets and on other 
occasions the half sheets were sent. In no case did he secure an entire sheet, 
and the half sheets supplied to him were always the same half and without 
the error. Hence his conclusions, as published in the paragraph just quoted 
from the American Journal of Philately. 

With all due respect to such an authority and with full appreciation of 
the value of this testimony I cannot unhesitatingly accept these conclusions, 
since there is much to be said on the other side. Primarily, every plate made 
by the great bank note companies is subjected to the most searching and 
microscopical scrutiny by several experts. Plates, which to ordinary eyes 
would appear perfect, are marked in numerous places for fuller and deeper 
impressions and other improvements. It is not to be conceived that such a 
glaring defect as an inverted design would be overlooked or allowed to pass 
uncorrected. As was explained on page 47, the design could readily be oblite- 
rated and a fresh transfer entered in its place. With this simple expedient at 
command, it is absurd to think that the contractors continued to produce 
sheets of stamps of each of which, owing to defects, the government would 
accept only one half. In further contradiction of the half sheet theory it 
must be remembered that the contractors had for the fifteen cents four plates 
for the frames and two for the centers, and for both the twenty-four and 
thirty cents two plates for each part. Even should we grant an error in one 
plate, the others were still available. 

A ninety cents with inverted medallion was listed in the catalogues 
for many years. But no copy is known to exist, and philatelists have long 



Another claim con- 
cerning the errors. 



Only half sheets 
on sale. 



Defective plates 
improbable. 



114 



ISSUE OF 1869. 



Bisected three 

cent stamp. 



Ninety cent stamp a „ decided that the variety originated in the imagination of a western dealer- 

uitli inverted ° . . . . f . , • , 

medallion. collector. Wishing to give eclat to an auction, he inserted in the catalogue 

of the sale this and certain similar and equally mythical varieties of the higher 
values of the State Department stamps. No collector in the United States 
was able to get a view of them, unlimited bids did not secure them at the 
sale, and it could never be learned to whom they were sold ; therefore, it has 
been concluded that they were only a tour de fatitasie. But I am informed, 
by a gentleman whose sources of information are entirely reliable, that this 
variety once existed, though no copy was ever allowed to be circulated. My 
informant once saw, among a lot of misprints and similar oddities, sheets of the 
four bi-colored values of this series all with inverted centeres. Of two values 
there were two sheets each, and of the other two values four sheets each. But 
he does not remember of which there were two and of which four. Though 
he was not interested in stamps, he was attracted by the oddity of these 
varieties and tried hard to obtain copies of them, but without success, and 
the whole lot was burned. 

The split three cents is an interesting variety. All the copies of this 
provisional with which collectors are acquainted, were used by Frank J. 
Bramhall (Assistant Assessor of the 6th Division of the 6th District of Virginia) 
in mailing, to residents of that division, blank forms for statements of the 
amount of their income and personal property, liable to taxation. These 
forms were merely folded, endorsed with the name and address of the tax- 
payer, the date, and the name and office of the official mailing them. Such 
documents would be carried in the mails as printed matter, at the rate of two 
cents each. Apparently there was a scarcity of two cent stamps and, to over- 
come the difficulty, three cents stamps were bisected. On some of the 
documents two-thirds of one stamp were used and on others a third from two 
different stamps. It is said that several hundred of these provisionals were^ 
used, but the finder destroyed the philatelic value of the greater part of them 
by removing the stamps from the documents. The only copy available at 
this writing is dated April 2nd, 1870. 

It is not known whether the varieties without grill are the result of 
accident or design. Their scarcity makes it certain that but few were issued 
in this condition, probably one or two small lots. The shades of the higher 
values seem to be identical in all copies, suggesting only one printing. But 
the three cents appears in two slight shades, and the two cents has frequently 
a thicker and darker gum than the other ungrilled varieties ; which would 
indicate a second printing of these two values. Ungrilled originals of the six, 
ten and twelve cents are not believed to exist. Copies which have very faint 
grills are frequently offered, with the claim that they are without grill but, 
when the stamps are viewed at the proper angle and in a good light, a trained 
eye will usually detect the grill. The originals without grill may be distin- 
guished from the re-issue of 1875 by the shades and by having brown gum, 
while the re-issued stamps have a crackled white gum. 

There is in the collection of Mr. H. G. Mandel a block of three cent 

Stamps on double stamps of this issue on double paper. The upper paper, which received the 

paper. impression, is quite thin and is embossed over the entire surface. The under 



Varieties without 
aril!. 



ISSUE OF 1869. 



1 '5 



I'late maker's 
guide marks. 



Plates. 



paper is thicker and serves merely as a backing for the other. The thirty 
cents is also known on double paper, without any grill. It is printed in colors 
slightly darker than those of the ungrilled stamp on ordinary paper. These 
varieties are fully finished, gummed and perforated. Whether they were ever 
in use or are only essays has not been determined. 

Articles have been written about certain lines and dots found on the 
stamps of this issue, especially on the values which are printed in two colors. 
These lines are found parallel to the sides of the stamps and also crossing 
them, either vertically or horizontally, at the center. The dots are usually at 
or near the middle of some of the four sides. Some writers have published 
elaborate lists of the various positions and combinations of these lines and 
dots. As they were merely guide marks on the plates, intended to insure the 
correct placing of the designs, and should have been erased after the plates 
were finished, they have no apparent philatelic value or interest. 

The plates of the lower values contained three hundred stamps each 
and those of the four higher values one hundred stamps each. The impres- 
sions from the plates of the lower values were divided vertically, making 
sheets of one hundred and fifty stamps. There is some evidence that the 
sheets of the higher values were divided in like manner into sheets of fifty 
stamps, though, from the official circular of March xst, 1869, it would appear 
that the original intention was to issue them in full sheets of one hundred. 

The imprint used for this issue is "national bank note CO., new 
york," in small white capitals, on a colored panel with rounded ends. Two 
thin lines of color surround the panel. On the values from one to twelve 
cents inclusive, the imprint appears four times on each sheet of three hundred 
stamps, /. e., at the top and bottom of each half sheet of one hundred and 
fifty. Each imprint is accompanied by " No." and numerals corresponding 
to the recorded number of the plate. These plate numbers are placed at the 
top and bottom of the second vertical row of stamps on each side of the 
central dividing line. On the four higher values the imprints and plate 
numbers are arranged as on the lower values, so far as is known. On each 
value, those at the bottom are in the color of and belong to the plate of the 
vignette or central part of the stamp, and those at the top belong to the plate 
for the outer part of the stamp and correspond to it in color. Certain plates 
of the twenty-four and thirty cents appear to have .been left without numbers, 
at least sheets of proofs show them in that condition, but numbers may have' 
subsequently been added to the plates. 

In addition to the imprints and plate numbers there were certain other 
marks on the margins of the plates. On the values from one to twelve cents 
inclusive, these marks were placed at the middle of the top and bottom, and Marginal marks 
indicated the line on which the sheets were to be cut in half. The half sheets 
of one hundred and fifty stamps, fifteen horizontal rows of ten stamps each, 
were marked for further division into fifties, if desired. These marks were 
placed on the sides of the plates, between the fifth and sixth and the tenth 
and eleventh rows. On the one and two cent values the marginal marks were 
short straight lines. On the three to twelve cents they were composed of 
three lines, forming an arrow head. The four higher values had, at the 



mprints and plate 
numbers. 



n6 



ISSUE OF 1869. 



Plate numbers. 



Statistics of 
manufacture. 



middle of each of the four sides, a T shaped mark which, on the printed 
sheets, shows the colors of both the frame and the vignette plates. 

The numbers of the plates were as follows : 



1 cent 






No. 1, 


2. 
















2 cents 






No. 3, 


4, 5- 


6, 27, 


28. 








3 cents 






No. 7, 


8,9, 


10, 


11, 


12 


, 2 5, 


26, 


29, 3°- 


6 cents 






No. 13 


, 14- 














10 cents 






No. 15 


, 16. 














12 cents 






No. 17 


, 18. 














15 cents 


(type 


I) 


Frame 


No. 


79. 


V 


ignette 


No. 


19. 


15 cents 


(type 


II) 


1 1 




23- 






a 






23- 


i 5 cents 


(type 


I) 


" 




3'- 






LL 






2 3- 


15 cents 


(type 


III) 


" 




3 2 - 






LL 






23- 


24 cents 






" 




20. 






LL 






20. 


24 cents 






a 




20. 






' 






24. 


24 cents 






" 




— 






LL 






20. 


30 cents 






" 




2 1 . 






LL 






21. 


30 cents 






ti 




— 






LL 






— 


90 cents 






" 




22. 






LL 






22. 



The dashes ( — ) in the above table indicate plates which have no 
number. 

Plate No. 33, given in previous lists, is a new plate of the one cent 
value, which was made for the re-issue of 1875. It contains only 150 
stamps. 

The records show the following quantities of stamps to have been 
prepared and delivered to the agent of the Government : 

1869 1 cent. 2 cents. 3 cents, 6 cents. 10 cents. 

Mch. to Dec. 

inclusive 11,077,050 57,387,500 268,857,750 2,593,600 1,960,280 
1870 
Jan. to Apl. 

inclusive 5,528,100 26,356,100 117,618,150 2,289,150 1,339,420 



Total, 16,605,150 83,743,600 386,475,900 
15 cents. 24 cents. 



1869 12 cents. 

Mch. to Dec. 

inclusive 2,595,400 
1870 
Jan. to Apl. 

inclusive 417,550 



4,882,750 3,299,700 
30 cents. 90 cents. 



776,180 
662,760 



Total, 3,012,950 1,438,940 



139,975 



95,375 



235,35° 



i5',5 2 ° 



92,59° 



244,1 10 



34,94° 



12,520 



47,460 



The report of the Postmaster General, dated November 15th, 1870, 
gives the following quantities of stamps supplied to deputy postmasters : 



ISSUE OF 1869. 



117 



Stamps issued d 


uring the fiscal year ending 


June 30th, 1 


870: 


Deliveries to 














postmasters. 






Quarter Ending: 










Sept. 30, 1869. 


Dec. 31, 1869. 


Mch 31, 1870. 


June 30, 1870. 


Total 




1 cent 


3,179,3°° 


3,944,100 


5,284,900 


4,835,800 


17,208,100 




2 cents 


1 7,493, 6o ° 


'9, 28 5,3°° 


*3>iS I > 2 S° 


i7,9°°,5°° 


77,83°,65° 




3 cents 


8 7, 559,9°° 


84,5 6 7-4co 


97,434,9°° 


89,449,100 


359,°' ',3°° 




5 cents 

6 cents 


67,520 
706,500 








67,520 

5,217,75° 




741,050 


2,091,750 


1,678,450 




10 cents 


821,500 


744,34° 


1,282,250 


986,2 10 


3,834,3°o 




12 cents 


909,500 


809,625 


399, 82 5 


234,975 


2,353,9 2 5 




15 cents 


470,620 


482,780 


576,700 


439,78o 


1,969,880 




24 cents 


66,675 


67,725 


78,350 


30,700 


243,450 




30 cents 


<° y ,34° 


84,980 


82,570 


60,660 


336,55° 




90 cents 


1 2,060 


12,300 


12,330 


8,33° 


45,020 





Whole number of stamps 468,118,445. Value $13,976,768.00. 

We know from other sources of information that, during the period 
covered by this table, stamps of the 1867, 1869 and r87o issues were supplied 
to the deputy postmasters. Thus its value as a guide to philatelists is, un- 
fortunately, greatly reduced. 

It is said that forged grills have been placed upon the stamps of the 
re-issue of 1875. As the ungrilled stamps of the 1875 printing have been, of 
late years at least, scarcer than those printed in 1869, it is not probable that 
this fraud has been extensively practiced. In the Philatelic Journal of 
America for March, 1895, is an account of a counterfeit of the ninety cents 
which was made in Brussels. This was produced by some photo-gelatin 
process and is said to have been very perfect. P'ortunately, before any of 
the imitations were circulated, the forger was arrested and the plate destroyed. 

This beautiful series, so much admired by philatelists, did not please 
the public. From its first appearance it met with adverse criticism in the 
public press. Objections were made to the size, shape, colors, designs and 
gum. Interesting extracts from the newspapers of the period will be found 
in the American Journal of Philately for 1869 (pages 57, 58, 74, 110, 111, 
and 146). In the same journal for August, 1869 (page 100), we find a note 
that a correspondent " wishes we would give engravings of the new U. S. 
stamps, as the high values are only to be found in a few of the large cities 
of the North." This indicates one of the reasons for the unpopularity of the 
issue. The general public did not see the handsome high values of the 
series. They used only the lower values, especially the three cents which, 
it must be admitted, was neither an interesting nor a dignified production. 

Whether, as was suggested in a paragraph quoted on a preceding page, 
the National Bank Note Co. were interested in stirring up unfavorable com- 
ment, in the hope of bringing about a change in the issue, we have no means 
of knowing. Probably the stamps printed in two colors were difficult and 
expensive to produce but, as the terms of their contract required them to 
supply any new designs and plates without expense to the Government, it is 
doubtful if they were anxious to make so costly a change. 



Counterfeits. 



Public dissatisfac- 
tion with the 
stamps. 



Ij8 ISSUE OF 1869. 

Whether it was due to the press, the public or the contractors, it was 

not long before the stamps of the 1861 type were reverted to. The American 

stamps of the pre- Journal of Philately for September, 1869 (page 107), says : "A new set of 

ceding issue again adhesives are in preparation for our country, all of the i860 set having been 
brought iuto use. ...... . , . . 

withdrawn from circulation in the city except the four lowest values, and 

those of 1861 used in their stead." And in the number for the succeeding 

month (page 114), we read : "At present the National Bank Note Company 

are working upon 2 and 3 cents stamps only, as the post office authorities 

propose to call in the rest of the new issue, owing to manifold objections 

made by the community at large." 

The stamps used instead of the different values of the 1869 series, 

were of the 1867 issue, rather than that of i86r, since they had the grill. 



Issue of 1870. 



The stamps of the 1869 series having failed to please either the public 
or the press, it was decided to replace them by a new issue. The report of 
the Postmaster General, dated November 15th, 1870, explains the reasons for 
the change and gives a brief description of the new stamps : 

"The adhesive stamps adopted by my predecessor in 1869, having failed to give 
satisfaction to the public, on account of their small size, their unshapely form, the inapprop- 
riateness of their designs, the difficulty of cancelling them effectually, and the inferior quality Historical. 

of the gum used in their manufacture, I found it necessary, in April last, to issue new stamps, 
of larger size, superior quality of gum, and improved designs. As the contract then in force 
contained a provision that the stamps should be changed, and new designs and plates 
furnished at the pleasure of the Postmaster General, without additional cost to the depart- 
ment, I decided to substitute an entire new series, one-third larger in size, and to adopt for 
designs the heads, in profile, of distinguished deceased Americans. This style was deemed 
the most eligible because it not only afforded the best opportunity for the exercise of the 
highest grade of artistic skill in composition and execution, but also appeared to be the most 
difficult to counterfeit. The designs were selected from marble busts of acknowledged ex- 
cellence, as follows : 

One cent, Franklin, after Rubricht ; two cents, Jackson, after Powers ; three cents, 
Washington, after Houdon ; six cents, Lincoln, after Volk ; ten cents, Jefferson, after Power's 
statute ; twelve cents, Clay, after Hart ; fifteen cents, Webster after Clevenger ; twenty- 
four cents, Scott, after Coffee ; thirty cents, Hamilton, after Cerrachi ; ninety cents, Com- 
modore O. H. Perry, profile bust, after Wolcutt's statute. 

The stamps were completed and issues of them began in April last. The superior 
gum with which they are coated is not the least of the advantages derived from the change." 

The proposed new issue was announced as early as September, 1869. 
The American Journal of Philately for December of that year (page 143), 
gave a list of the portrait busts selected for the series. The stamps were 
not placed on sale, however, until about April 15th, 1870. The issue was 
announced by the following official circular : 

CIRCULAR TO PO STMASTERS^ €ircular announcing 

Post Office Department. 
Office of Third Assistant Postmaster General. 
April Qth, 1870. 
New Series of Postage Stamps. 

At an early date, in the regular course of business, the Department will issue to Post- 
masters, postage stamps of a new design. (See description annexed). 

You are required to exhaust all of the present style on hand before supplying the 
public with the new ; and in no case will you be allowed to make exchanges for individuals 
or to return the stamps to the Department to be exchanged. 

The stamps now in use are not to be disregarded, but must be recognized in all cases, 
equally with the new ones. The stamps known as the series of 1861, of which a few are 
supposed to be yet outstanding, are also to be recognized. Those issued prior to the com- 
mencement of the war of the Rebellion were long since declared to be valueless. 



the issue. 



120 



ISSUE OF 1870. 



Date of issue. 



The seven ceut 
stamp. 



Special attention is called to the fact that each sheet, of all denominations of the new 
series, contains but 100 stamps. This must be borne in mind to prevent mistakes in count- 
ing, as in the present issue some of the denominations have 150 stamps to the sheet. 

Special requests for the new style of stamps will be disregarded until the stock of the 
present issue, in possession of the Department, is exhausted 

Wm. H. Terrell, 
Third Assistant Postmaster General. 

The date of issue is given by Mr. Tiffany as May, 1870, but this 
appears to be slightly incorrect. The American Journal of Philately for 
April 20th, 1870, gave a colored illustration of the three cents and announced 
the series as issued. In describing the stamps it said : " For reference we 
reprint from the extra of 25th March." A copy of this extra is not available 
but it is understood to have been merely a single leaf, giving a list of the 
new stamps, their designs and colors. In view of the date of the circular of 
the Third Assistant Postmaster General it would seem doubtful if the stamps 
were actually in issue on March 25th. Possibly they were described from 
proofs or from a set shown by some official. Probably the actual date of 
issue was not far from April 15th, 1870. 

The seven cent stamps did not appear with the other values of the 
series, that rate not being established until April 7th, 1870. Concerning this 
value the report of the Postmaster General, dated November 15th, 1870, says: 

" Upon the conclusion of the postal treaty with the North German Confederation, 
fixing the single letter rate by direct steamers at seven cents, to take effect the 1st of July last, 
a stamp of that denomination was adopted, and the profile bust of the late Edwin M. Stanton 
selected for the design. This has been completed in a satisfactory manner but, owing to the 
temporary discontinuance of the direct mail steamship service to North Germany, it has not 
been issued to postmasters." 

The discontinuance referred to was caused by the Franco-Prussian 



Mr. Tiffany again seems to be in error when he gives the date of issue 
of this stamp as July, 1870. He was probably misled by the fact that the 
Date of issue. postal treaty above referred to was to go into effect on the 1st of that month. 
But it is quite evident that the appearance of the stamp was delayed until a 
much later date. The American Journal of Philately for July 20th, 1870 
(page 84), says : 

"The seven cent stamp that we described, but omitted to state its value, has been 
printed off in a variety of colors and has a very beautiful appearance. They were intended 
to have been issued last week ; but the war in Europe and consequent stopping of the 
Bremen steamer, has made them useless for the present. It is very doubtful if they will be 
issued till peace has been established in Europe." 

In the August number of the same journal (page 95), we read : 

" We understand that the new seven cent stamp will be adorned with the profile of 
Stanton, but they will not be issued yet." 

On November 15th, 1870, the report of the Postmaster General, pre- 
viously quoted, distinctly says : " It has not yet been issued to postmasters." 
Finally, the records of the contractors show that no seven cent stamps 
First printing of were printed until March, 1871. 

the seven cent j t was not unt jj April 20, 1 87 1, that the American Journal of Philately 

reported : " The seven cent stamp * has at length made its appear- 

ance." 



ISSUE OF 1870. 121 

At that late date it could have been of but little avail for correspon- 
dence to Germany, as the letter rate to that country was reduced to six cents 
by the postal treaty which was signed at Washington on March 3rd, and at 
Berlin on May 14th, 1871, taking effect "on the date of the dispatch of the 
first mail." On December 1st, 1871, a treaty was made with Denmark which 
established a rate of seven cents for letters to that country, beginning January 
1st, 1872, and thus renewed the usefulness of the stamp of that value. 

The official description of the stamps of the 1870 series is as follows : Designs. 

" One cent. A lined rectangular ground is left uncovered near the 
edges of the stamp on all sides. Inside this a more distinctly outlined border 
of scroll work and conventionally foliated ornaments fills the space to the 
medallion, which contains a profile bust of Franklin. The sides of this border 
are symmetrically curved inward, the corners being ornamentally rounded, 
and on it, resting upon and following the upper curve of the medallion, is a 
narrow panel bearing the words ' u. s. postage'. The words 'one' and 
' cent ', in white capitals, at the bottom, appear in two curves, drooping at the 
ends and separated by an ornate, heavy-faced, white figure ' 1 '. 

Two cents. An oval medallion, containing the profile bust of Jack- 
son, after Powers' statue, rests upon a shield covering almost the entire 
stamp and placed upon a faint-lined rectangular ground. On this shield, 
above the medallion, is an ornamented tablet, curving with the ellipse, except 
at the ends of the line, which tend outward, and bearing the words ' u. s. 
postage'. Faint traces of leafy branches curving upward fill the space at 
the bottom and sides of the shield not covered by the medallion. Across 
this, upon a ribbon-like double-curved tablet flowing at the ends, are the 
words, in white capitals, 'two' and 'cents', divided by the denomination 
figure ' 2 '. 

Three cents. Nearly the whole face of the stamp is taken up by a 
shield resting upon a dimly lined ground, on which shield the bust of Wash- 
ington, after Houdon's statue, in an oval frame, is placed, surmounted by a 
curved ornamented tablet bearing the words ' u. s. postage '. Under the 
portrait, on a flowing ribbon with forked ends, are the words ' three cents ', 
separated by a large Arabic white-faced figure ' 3 '. 

Six cents. On a delicately lined ground appears a dark rectangular 
mass of color, with heavy side projections nearly one-third of the length, on 
which is the bust of Lincoln in an oval medallion, surmounted by a panel 
bearing the words ' u. s. postage '. Below the medallion, on a waved ribbon 
with forked ends, are the words 'six cents', in white capitals, separated by 
a large white Arabic figure ' 6 '. 

Seven cents. A large rectangular tablet, ornamented at the four 
corners with heavy balls, rests upon a background, the edges of which alone 
appear. On this tablet is an oval medallion containing the profile bust of 
Stanton, surmounted by a curved panel bearing the words ' u. s. postage ', 
while below the medallion is a similar panel bearing the words 'seven cents' 
in white capitals, separated by a white Arabic figure ' 7 '. 

Ten cents. A large faint-lined shield rests upon a darker rectangular 



122 ISSUE OF 1870. 

ground. On this shield is a profile bust of Jefferson, in an oval medallion, 
with the words ' u. s. postage ' above and ' ten cents ', separated by the 
number " 10', below, displayed in the same way as the legends on the six 
cent stamp. 

Twelve cents. On a lined rectangular frame is a raised panel of the 
same shape, with beveled edges. On this panel rests an oval medallion, bear- 
ing the profile bust of Henry Clay. Above and below, in curved tablets, 
connected on the sides by triangular joints, are respectively the words, in white 
capitals, ' u. s. postage' and 'twelve cents', the two latter words being 
separated by the number ' 12 ' in Arabic figures. The words of denomina- 
tion are of block letters. 

Fifteen cents. On a lined rectangular frame, with triangular panels 
set in near each corner, is an oval medallion bearing the profile bust of Daniel 
Webster. Above, in a curved tablet, ending on either side in a circular knob, 
are the words, in shaded white letters, ' u. s. postage '. Below, in a similar 
tablet, but without knobs, in small white letters, are the words ' fifteen 
cents ', separated by the number ' 15 ' in ornamented Arabic figures. 

Twenty-four cents. The denomination numerals, ' 24 ' in Gothic 
type, are in each of the upper corners, conforming in their position to the 
curve of an ornamental tablet, placed immediately above an ellipitical medal- 
lion bearing a profile bust of Gen. Winfield Scott. Thirteen five-pointed 
stars are placed on this tablet; two at each end are blank white, while each 
of the eleven remaining bears a small Gothic capital letter, constituting the 
legend ' u. s. postage ', in the color of the stamp. The denomination is given 
at the bottom in small white Gothic capitals ' twenty-four ', close up to and 
following the ellipse line, and ' cents ' in a straight line, in the middle, below. 
In the left lower corner appears a flag, loosely gathered around its staff, the 
muzzle end and part of the wheels of a piece of field artillery, and a pile of 
shells ; in the right are three muskets stacked. 

Thirty cents. On a rectangular-lined ground is placed a heavy 
beveled tablet, rounded in a half circle at the bottom, and with the upper 
corners described by bastion-like projections. From this point down to the 
half circle — a distance of half an inch — the tablet is straight lined on its sides 
and narrower than the stamp by about one-sixteenth of an inch. On the 
tablet is an elliptical medallion bearing the profile bust of Alexander Hamilton. 
The legend, ' u. s. postage ', above the medallion, is curved as on the 6-cent 
stamp, except that no panel encloses it, and the words 'thirty ' and 'cents' 
appear in black capitals at the bottom, on a double-curved ribbon, dropping 
inward, with forked ends. 

Ninety cents. The upper half of an elliptical medallion bearing the 
profile bust of Commodore Perry, is bounded by a rope, attached at each end 
by eye-splices to a swinging panel describing the lower half of the ellipse, and 
bearing the words ' ninety ' and ' cents ' in block letters, assigned to the left 
and right of the number ' 90 '. A plain tablet is the basis of the stamp, and 
is beveled except within one-eighth of an inch of the corners, where it exhibits 
sharp edges. In each upper corner is a five-pointed star, raised in the center, 



ISSUE OF 1870. 



123 



Stamps on double 
paper. 



Grills. 



and in each lower corner the flukes of an anchor and part of the shank 
project from under the panel." 

The stamps of this issue are of uniform size, measuring 20x25mm. 

The paper is white wove, varying from thin to moderately thick. On 
many of the stamps the surface of the paper is slightly tinted by the ink. 
This is particularly the case with the thirty cents, which has always a gray 
surface from this cause. 

The gum ranges from yellowish to brown. 

I have recently seen the six and twenty-four cent stamps on double 
paper. The former was on the original cover and cancelled " Providence, 
R. I., Nov. 1st, 1870." These stamps were doubtless made under patent 
86,952, issued February 16th, 1869, to Charles F. Steel of New York. Further 
reference to this patent will be made in the next chapter. This double 
paper was composed of a very thin paper, backed by a thicker and firmer 
one. The impressions were to be made on the thin paper which, it was 
expected, would be destroyed by any attempt to remove a cancellation. 
Strange to say, the two copies which I have seen were both printed on the 
thicker paper, which, of course, completely nullified the intention of the 
inventor. I think it is quite probable that other denominations of this issue 
exist on double paper. 

The stamps of this series were issued both with and without the grill 
and both styles appear to have been in use at the same time. The Stamp 
Collectors' Magazine for June 1st, 1870 (page 89), announces the appearance 
of the one, two, three, six and ten cents and says : " The 1 cent and 10 cents 
are on paper impressed with the quadrilled square ; the others, if we may judge 
simply from our specimens, are on plain paper." Other journals, when 
describing the stamps, do not speak of the embossing, either because it was 
lacking on the specimens in hand or because it was considered too familiar a 
feature to require comment. The records of the contractors do not make any 
mention of embossing on this series. 

It had long been evident that the grill did not produce the results 
claimed for it nor add anything to the usefulness of the stamps. A clause in 
the contract required the stamps to be embossed and some pretense of apply- 
ing the process was maintained at first. But it was not regularly used and 
finally was abandoned altogether. At such times as it was used the result 
was generally insignificant. On the majority of the stamps only a portion of 
the grill can be seen, on some of them only a few points. There are also 
strips in which some stamps show the grill while others have absolutely no 
trace of it. These defects should not be attributed to the wearing of the grill 
roller. They are due to the deterioration of the leaden bed on which the 
sheets of stamps rested. This bed had so yielded to pressure that it did not 
hold the sheets firmly against the roller and, as a consequence, the grill was 
often imperfect and sometimes lacking entirely. The pressure of the hydraulic 
press also helped to obliterate the grill. 

Philatelists have had much cause to regret that this obsolete device 
was ever impressed on the stamps of this issue. Many values are rare with 
the grill and, as a consequence, have tempted the forgers. When a grill is Counterfeit grills 



Defective grills. 



124 



ISSUE OF 1870. 



crrlll rollers. 



strongly impressed it is usually possible to decide as to its merits or demerits. 
When, however, it is indistinct, it becomes extremely difficult to pronounce 
upon its character It is impossible to establish any fixed rules for distin- 
guishing the good from the bad. A thorough understanding of the character- 
istics of all genuine grills, as well as of the paper, gum and shades of the 
stamps of this particular issue, are the most reliable guides. With study and 
experience there comes an instinctive knowledge of the subject, to which one 
cannot give adequate verbal expression. 

It may be of passing interest to know what became of the grill rollers 
— the only important part of the machinery — after their use was discontinued. 
Destruction of the In 1884, the American Bank Note Co., who held the contract for printing 
the tickets for the New York and Brooklyn Bridge, were called upon to 
provide a machine to destroy the tickets which had been used. The grill 
rollers were utilized to make this machine. Around them were cut alternate 
grooves and knife-like edges and they were placed in such juxtaposition that, 
when the tickets were passed between them, they were cut into shreds. The 
machine was afterwards abandoned for some other process, but its interest 
for philatelists ceased when there was no further possibility of it being used 
to produce grills. 

The grills of the 1870 issue vary somewhat in size, though they have 
not such an extensive range as those of the 1867 issue. Several values have 
been found with the grill extending from top to bottom of the stamp and 
varying in width. As was explained on page 99, this variety is caused by a 
continuous band of bosses on each end of the roller. 

As many of the grills show only a few points, it would be impossible 
to assign every specimen to a particular heading and, therefore, it seems best 
to give separate lists of the sizes of the grills and shades of the stamps. 

The following list has been arranged from one compiled by Mr. J. B. 
Leavy, and published in the American Journal of Philately for April, 1896, 
to which I have added a number of varieties from personal observation : 



Varieties of the 
srill. 



Hefercnce Mst 
of grills. 



i cent ultramarine 
2 cents red-brown 

1 cent ultramarine 

2 cents red-brown 

3 cents green 
3 cents green 
3 cents green 

6 cents carmine-rose 

1 cent ultramarine 

2 cents red-brown 

3 cents green 

7 cents vermilion 

12 cents pale dull violet 
15 cents bright orange 
24 cents dull purple 
90 cents carmine-lake 



Rows of points. 


Size in mm. 


10x10 

it 


8x8 


IOXI 2 


8xiO 


<< 


it 


a 


n 


IOXI3 


8X10^ 


I 1X1 I 


8^X9 


IIXI2 


8^X9^ 


IIXI3 


8>^XIO^ 



ISSUE OF 1870. 



I2 5 



Rows of points. Size in mm. 
90 cents carmine-lake 11x15 8^x12^ 

3 cents green 12x14 9x11 

24 cents dull purple 12x15 9 XI2 

90 cents carmine-lake 

1 cent ultramarine ! 3 XI 5 10x12 

2 cents red-brown 

3 cents green 

6 cents carmine-rose 

7 cents vermilion 
10 cents brown 
15 cents bright orange 
30 cents black 

1 cent ultramarine 13x16 10x12% 

3 cents green 
7 cents vermilion 
90 cents carmine-lake 

The stamps are found in the following colors and shades : 

White Wove Paper. 

Perforated 12. 

With grill 8 to 8>^x8 to io^mm. 

1 cent pale ultramarine, ultramarine, deep ultramarine 

2 cents pale red-brown, red-brown, orange-brown 

3 cents pale green, green 

6 cents carmine-rose 

7 cents scarlet-vermilion 
12 cents pale dull violet 
15 cents bright orange 
30 cents full black 
90 cents carmine-lake 

With grill 9 to 10x11 to 1 2*4 mm. 

1 cent pale ultramarine, ultramarine, dark ultramarine, 
bright ultramarine 

2 cents pale red-brown, red-brown, orange-brown 

3 cents pale green, green, pale yellow-green, yellow-green, 
deep green 

6 cents pale carmine-rose, carmine-rose, carmine 

7 cents scarlet-vermilion, vermilion 
10 cents yellow-brown, brown, dark brown 
15 cents bright orange, orange, deep orange 
24 cents pale dull purple . , 
30 cents full black 
90 cents carmine-lake 



April 15th, 1870. 



April, 1871. 
April 15th, 1870. 



Reference List 
of colors. 



126 ISSUE OF 1870. 

Varieties : 

1 cent ultramarine. Grill extending from top to bottom 

2 cents red-brown, pale red-brown 

3 cents yellow-green, light green 

6 cents carmine-rose, carmine 

7 cents scarlet-vermilion 
10 cents yellow-brown 
12 cents dull violet 
30 cents full black 

Without grill. 

1 cent pale ultramarine, ultramarine, dark ultramarine, 

bright ultramarine, gray-blue, dull blue, chalky 
blue 

2 cents pale red-brown, red-brown, deep red-brown, 

orange-brown, brown, dark brown 

3 cents gray-green, pale green, green, yellow-green 

6 cents pale rose, rose, brown-rose, rose-carmine, carmine, 

brown-carmine, violet-carmine 

7 cents scarlet-vermilion, orange-vermilion, vermilion 

10 cents yellow-brown, brown, dark brown, gray-brown, 

dark gray-brown 
12 cents pale dull violet, dull violet, gray-violet 
15 cents pale bright orange, bright orange 
24 cents red-purple, purple, deep purple, gray-purple 
30 cents full black, gray-black 
90 cents carmine-lake, lake 

Varieties : 

2 cents red-brown. Diagonal half and another copy, 

used as three cents. Cancelled at Hardy, Ala., 
April 2nd, 1872 

3 cents green. Imperforate 

3 cents green. Impression on the reverse 

Double paper. 
6 cents carmine 
24 cents purple 

Each of the plates of the 1870 issue contained two hundred stamps, 
arranged is two panes, side by side. The impressions from these plates were 
Plates. divided into sheets of one hundred stamps each. The imprint appears at the 

middle of the top and bottom of each half of the plate. Between each 
imprint and the central dividing line is the number of the plate, in script 
numerals, preceded by " No." Two styles of imprint were used. The first 
was " national bank note co. new york ", in white capitals, on a small 
panel with rounded ends, surrounded by two thin colored lines. The second 
imprint was "engraved and printed by the — national bank note co. 
new york ", in two lines of white capitals, on a tablet with pearled edge and 



ISSUE OF 1870. I27 

surrounded by a single thin colored line. The first variety has been seen on 
plates numbered as high as 27 and the second on 32 and higher numbers. 

The plate numbers are : plate numbers. 



1 cent 


No. 


16, 17, 50, 51, 52, 53. 


2 cents 


No. 


12, 13. *4j !5> 28, 3°, 34, 35, 45, 46, 47- 


3 cents 


No. 


1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 > 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 25, 29, 31, 32, 
3 6 , 37, 3 8 > 39, 4o, 4i, 42, 43, 44, 54, 55- 


6 cents 


No. 


26, 27. 


7 cents 


No. 


33- 


10 cents 


No. 


18, 19, 48, 49. 


12 cents 


No. 


24. 


15 cents 


No. 


20. 


24 cents 


No. 


21. 


30 cents 


No. 


22. 


90 cents 


No. 


2 3- 



The imperforate three cent stamps were printed from plate 11. 
Only a very limited amount of information can be obtained in regard 
to the plate numbers of the embossed stamps. The following numbers are plate numbers of 

,, , 1 1 , , , 11 , ■ ,1 /■ the S ril l ed stamps. 

all that are known but, doubtless, many other plates were used, especially for 
the one, two and three cent stamps. 



2 cents 


No. 


45- 


3 cents 


No. 


1 1. 


7 cents 


No. 


33- 


12 cents 


No. 


24. 


15 cents 


No. 


20. 


24 cents 


No. 


21. 


30 cents 


No. 


22. 


90 cents 


No. 


2 3- 



Tl 


le records sh 


ow the following quantities 


of stamps tc 


) have been statistics of 


printed and delivered 


to the Stamp 


Agent : 




manufacture. 




1870 


1871 


1872 


1873 






Apl. to Dec. 


Jan. to Dec. 


Jan. to Dec. 


Jan. to Apl. 






inclusive. 


inclusive. 


inclusive. 


inclusive. 


Total. 


1 cent 


13,404,400 


21,573,400 


64,705,900 


38,408,000 


138,091,700 


2 cents 


54,674,800 


90,416,500 


73,018,200 


22,626,400 


240,735,90° 


3 cents 


252,804,450 


3 6 9> 6 3 2 >7°o 


417,952,400 


164,570,100 1 


,204,959,650 


6 cents 


4,666,450 


8,270,250 


10,193,050 


4,269,100 


27,39 8 , 8 5° 


7 cents 




1,486,700 


1,066,100 


394,100 


2,946,900 


10 cents 


2,619,180 


3,395, 8 70 


3,443,270 


1,187,240 


10,645,560 


12 cents 


665,995 


1,104,600 


1,075,525 


4 8 4,3 2 5 


3,330,445 


15 cents 


1,026,840 


1,856,680 


1,871,420 


826,860 


5,581,800 


24 cents 


122,000 


229,450 


299,625 


'35.975 


787,050 


30 cents 


i3i,5 8 ° 


258,620 


366,573 


106,770 


8 63,543 


90 cents 


23,100 


119,240 


57,5 8 ° 


x 3,53o 


213,450 



128 



ISSUE OF 187*0. 



Remainders. 






1 cent. 2 cents. 3 cents. 6 cents. 


7 cents. 


10 cents. 


12,227,300 5,826,900 56,092,900 1,155,250 


422,600 


9 2 5.440 


12 cents. 15 cents. 24 cents. 50 cents. 


90 cents. 




363,050 39°»7°° 5 8f >45° 5°9> o6 ° 


8 5>57o 





These remainders doubtless represent an undistributed balance of 
stamps from several preceding issues and not from the 1870 issue alone. 

Deliveries to The reports of the Postmaster General supply the following statistics 

postmasters. f stam p S distributed to deputy postmasters : 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1871 : 
Quarter Ending : 







Sept. 30, 1870. 


Dec. 31, 1870. 


Mch. 31, 1871. 


June 30, 1871. 


Total. 


I 


cent 


3,684,800 


5,163,000 


5,699,100 


5,605,900 


20,152,800 


2 


cents 


1 7,222,300 


22,756,850 


24-57MOO 


21,174,300 


85,724,550 


3 


cents 


86,944,500 


97,146,100 


99,791,100 


93.7i9.50 


377,6or,2oo 


6 


cents 


1,414,100 


i,7 2 3>5°° 


2,109,900 


2,038,150 


7,285,650 


7 


cents 






166,400 


427,600 


594,000 


10 


cents 


803,880 


886,260 


9 6 3»°3° 


926,430 


3.579,6oo 


12 


cents 


231,500 


246,350 


303J25 


232,675 


1,014,250 


15 


cents 


326,480 


346,640 


503.3 2 o 


463,620 


1,640,060 


24 


cents 


30,300 


78,075 


57,725 


7',925 


238,025 


3° 


cents 


28,920 


67,320 


69,110 


70,150 


235,5o o 


90 


cents 


5,°7° 


9,910 


i4,77o 


30,790 


60,540 




Whole number 


of stamps 498, 


126,175. Val 


ue $14,630,7; 


[5.00. 



Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1872 : 



Quarter Ending : 



Sept. 30, [871. 

1 cent 4,846,000 

2 cents 21,669,200 

3 cents 94,873,100 
2,002,700 



6 cent 

7 cents 
10 cents 
12 cents 
15 cents 
24 cents 
30 cents 
90 cents 



449,600 
808,860 
268,775 
378,180 

52,775 
58,35o 
24,380 



Dec. 31, 1871. 

5,422,400 

23,001,900 

102,041,000 

2,119,500 

361,100 

677,550 

299,425 

411,560 

47,025 

51,010 

12,680 



Mch. 31, 1872. June 30, 1872. 

6,531,800 10,862,900 

25,918,800 21,383,600 

105,623,600 101,963,800 

2,722,950 2,384,600 



257,300 247,900 

922,970 708,160 

338,675 3!8,475 

580,900 43^460 
116,500 61,950 

108,990 57,58o 

13,650 21,440 

Whole number of stamps 541,455,070. Value $15,840,649 



Total. 

27,663,100 

9 r ,973,50o 

404,501,500 

9, 2 29,75o 

i,3'5»9 00 

3, I '7,54o 

1,225,350 

1,802,100 

278,250 

275,93o 

72,150 



ISSUE OF 1870. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1873 
Quarter Ending : 



1 29 





Sept 


. 30, 1872. 


Dec. 31, 1872. 


Mch. 31, 1873. 


June 30, 1873. 


Total. 


1 cent 


2 5>335, 2 °° 


21,976,000 


26,206,100 


2 4,335>4°° 


97, 8 52,7°° 


2 cents 


1 1 


,398,900 


14,316,900 


17,518,700 


13, '5 8 , 800 


5 6 >393,3°° 


3 cents 


100 


,535,°°° 


109,830,000 


109,519,800 


108,729,600 


428,614,400 


6 cents 


2 


,3 2 3, 2 5° 


2,762,250 


3,026,250 


2,589,600 


i°,7oi,35 


7 cents 




166,300 


394,600 


270,300 


281,100 


1,112,300 


10 cents 




713,210 


1,098,930 


93 2 , 2 3° 


673,100 


3,4i7,47o 


12 cents 




2 7°,775 


347,600 


3 2 4, 2 5° 


322,925 


1,265,550 


15 cents 




399,000 


457,060 


53 6 ,44«> 


502,900 


1,895,400 


24 cents 




35.975 


85,200 


84,400 


75,425 


281,000 


30 cents 




70,220 


129,780 


73,3 2 ° 


71,990 


345, 3'o 


90 cents 




8,160 


24,33° 


7,5°° 


12,75° 


52,74° 



Whole number of stamps 601,931,520. Value $16,681,189.00. 

As the stamps of the 1870 issue appeared in April of that year and the 
contract of the National Bank Note Co. expired on April 30th, 1873, it is 
evident that the preceding tables do not accurately report the total issue of 
the stamps manufactured by that company. 



Issues of 1873-75. 



Historical. 



Secret marks ou 
the stamps. 



Purpose of the 
secret marks. 



In December, 1872, the Postmaster General, as required by law, adver- 
tised for bids for supplying the postage stamps that would be required by the 
Post Office Department for a period of four years, beginning May 1st, 1873. 
This contract was awarded to the Continental Bank Note Co. of New York. 

By order of the Department, the designs prepared by the National 
Bank Note Co., in 1870, were continued in use. The new contractors com- 
pleted their first plate on April 7th, 1873, and began printing stamps at once. 
It is not possible to say how soon after May 1st, the issue of the stamps to 
the public was begun. The first notice of them appears in the American 
Journal of Philately for August 15th, 1873 (page 126), where we read : 

" The difference is easily noticed without the aid of the Company's imprint, the colors 
being paler than heretofore, and of a slightly washy appearance." 

This, however, was not the only difference, for the manufacturers had 
provided other means of identifying the stamps made by them. On most of 
the values they placed secret marks. These marks were quite sufficient to 
distinguish their stamps from those of the preceding contractors but, at the 
same time, were of so unobtrusive a nature as to escape detection for many 
years, even by the sharp eyes of philatelists. Much interest was excited by 
the announcement in March, 1895, of the discovery of the secret mark on 
the twelve cents. This was followed, in succeeding months, by the finding 
of similar marks on all the other values of the series expect the thirty cents. 

Undoubtedly the object of these marks was to provide a simple and 
positive proof that the stamps bearing them were the product of the Con- 
tinental Bank Note Co. For several years previous to 1873 there had been 
much complaint, both by the public and the press, as to the quality of our 
postage stamps, not only in regard to the designs and colors but also as to 
poor printing and gumming. It is understood that the Continental Bank 
Note Co. believed that large quantities of the stamps made by their pre- 
decessors were of inferior quality. And they feared, because the designs 
used by the two contractors were identical, that these inferior stamps might, 
at some later date, be thrown on their hands by the Government, with the 
claim that they were produced under their contract and must be replaced by 
them. To forestall any such possibility the secret marks were added. 

The new contractors also made haste to provide themselves with new 
plates, made from the altered dies, that they might not be required to make 



ISSUES OF 1873-75. 



131 



any use of the plates of their predecessors. By the date of the commence- 
ment of their contract they had an ample supply of plates for all values from 
one to fifteen cents inclusive. In view of these facts, I have never believed 
in printings by the Continental Bank Note Co. from plates of the National 
Bank Note Co., except for the three higher values, though such printings 
have been listed in various publications. The correctness of this conclusion 
is confirmed by those whose position enables them to speak with authority. 

The following enlarged illustrations will assist the reader in under- 
standing the description of the secret marks : 

National Bank Note Co. 




1 cent. 2 cents. 3 cents. 6 cents. 7 cents. 10 cents. 

Continental Bank Note Co. 




1 cent. 



2 cents. 3 cents. 6 cents. 

National Bank Note Co. 



7 cents. 



10 cents. 




12 cents. 15 cents. 24 cents. 

Continental Bank Note Co. 



90 cents. 




12 cents. 15 cents. 24 cents. 90 cents. 

Briefly described, the secret marks are as follows : 

A small curved dash in the first pearl at the left of the 



One cent 
numeral " 1." 



A short diagonal line below the colorless ball at the 



of " u. s." This line can only be seen on very clearly printed 



Two CENTS 

left of the " s 

copies. But if, at this point, the space between the ornamental outline of 

the panel which is inscribed " u. s. postage " and the first vertical line of the 

background (counting toward the left) is blurred or partly filled with color, 

it may be accepted as an indication of the presence of the line. On all the 

stamps printed by the National Bank Note Co. this space is quite clear and 

white. 



New plates. 



Description of the 
secret marks. 



132 ISSUES OF 1873-75. 

Three cents. A heavy shading below the upper fork of the ribbon 
which bears the word " three." 

Six cents. In the curve of the ribbon bearing the word "six " the 
first four lines, counting from the left, are recut and deepened. 

Seven cents. Two small semi-circles drawn around the ends of the 
lines which outline the ball in the lower right corner. 

Ten cents. A small colored semi-circle in the white ball which 
terminates the right hand end of the panel inscribed " u. s. postage." 

Twelve cents. The two white balls of the " 2 " of " 12 " have been 
cut away until they are nearly crescent shape. 

Fifteen cents. In the triangle in the upper left corner, two lines 
at the lower angle have been deepened and form a sort of " v." 

Twenty-four cents. In the star at the extreme right of the semi-circle 
above the medallion five lines have been much deepened and two others 
slightly so. 

Thirty cents. No secret mark have been discovered on this value, 
though the engraver who added the marks to the other stamps is positive that 
the thirty cents was similarly treated. 

Ninety cents. Five lines of the star in the upper right corner have 
been deepened. 

The Continental Bank Note Co. did not make new plates for the twenty- 
four, thirty and ninety cent stamps. They did not print any stamps of these 
No secret marks on values before the year 1874 and then felt themselves safe in using the plates 
the three higher Q f t ] ie National Bank Note Co. For these reasons we do not find any secret 

values. . 

marks on the stamps of these three values which were printed by the first 
named company. They may only be distinguished by differences in the 
shades, paper and gum. Our knowledge of the secret marks which were in- 
tended to appear on these stamps is obtained from proof impressions from the 
altered dies. 

Except for the addition of the secret marks the designs of the stamps 
of the 1873 series are the same as those of the 1870 issue. The size is, of 
course, unchanged. 

A circular, issued by the Third Assistant Postmaster General, under 
date of June 21st, 1875, announced the reduction of the rate of postage to 
FiTe cent stamp five cents, to those countries which had united in the Universal Postal Union, 
announced. anc j ^ p re p ara tion of a stamp of that value. It may be interesting to know 
which countries constituted the Postal Union at its inception. The treaty 
was signed at Berne on Oct. 9th, 1874, by delegates from the following 
countries : 

Germany, Austria, Hungary, Belgium, Denmark (including Iceland 
and the Faroe islands), Egypt, Spain (including the Balaeric isles, the Canary 
Countries in the islands, the Spanish possessions on the northern coast of Africa, and the 
postal establishments of Spain on the western coast of Morocco), Great 
Britain (including the island of Malta), Greece, Italy, Luxemburg, Norway, 
Netherlands, Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores), Roumania, Russia 



I'niTersal Postal 
Union. 






ISSUES OF 1873-75. 133 

(including the Grand Duchy of Finland), Servia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey 
and the United States. Subsequently this treaty was duly approved and 
ratified by the governments of each of these countries and acts of ratification 
were exchanged at Berne on May 3rd, 1875. At that date France also gave 
its adhesion to the treaty, with certain reservations, the principal of which 
was that the treaty should not enter into effect, so far as France was concerned, 
until January 1st, 1876. For the other countries the treaty took effect on 
July 1st, 1875. 

The above mentioned circular further stated : 

" The changes in foreign postages will render unnecessary the further use of the 7, 12 
and 24 cent stamps and stamped envelopes, and they will accordingly be discontinued. Three denominations 

In order to avoid the liability to mistake caused by the near similarity in color between discontinued. 

the two and ten cent stamp, the former will in future be printed in vermilion, the color of 
the discontinued seven cent stamp." 

The stock of the discontinued values was ordered to be used up, so 
far as possible. These changes were to take effect on July 1st, 1875. 

Mr. Tiffany gives the date of issue of the five cent stamp as Oct. 5th, 
1875, but this is evidently incorrect. As will be seen, on a subsequent page, 
in the tables of stamps issued to deputy postmasters, 363,180 of this value Date of issue of the 
were issued in the quarter ending June 30, 1875. And in the A m eric an Jour- flTe cent stamp. 
nal of Philately for June 20th, 1875 (page 90) we find the stamp illustrated 
and described as " come to hand." The report of the Postmaster General, 
dated Nov. 15th, 1875, says : "To meet the new letter rate of foreign postage 
under the treaty of Berne, postage stamps of the denomination of five cents 
began to be issued on the 21st of June last." This statement is apparently 
based on the circular previously quoted, and may not be absolutely correct. 
The stamp was probably issued between the 15th and 30th of June, 1875. 

The description of the stamp is as follows : Design. 

" Five cents (Taylor). Tablet, legend, and denomination are of a 
style very similar to the 10 cent stamp. The portrait of Gen. Zachary Taylor is 
the only full face in the series. The dress is an open double-breasted military 
coat within which appear the neck stock and high white collar." 

The stamp is of the same size as the other denominations of the series, 
20x25mm. 

The die for this stamp was supplied to the contractors by the Bureau 
of Engraving and Printing, by whom the vignette had been used on the six 
ounce tobacco stamp of the series of 1871. To conform with the rest of Origin of the die. 
the series the vignette was placed in a medallion, surrounded by devices 
identical with those on the ten cent stamp. The head was too large for the 
medallion and the result was incongruous. 

The years covered by the contracts of the Continental Bank Note Co. 
were prolific in designs and patents intended to prevent the cleaning and 
re-use of postage stamps. Some of these ideas were given a trial while others 
apparently did not get beyond the preparatory stage. 

The majority of collectors are probably not aware that this company 
made use of the grill. In spite of the admitted failure of this device, when 
used by their predecessors, they provided themselves with the necessary machin- Grills, 

ery and applied the process to a few thousand stamps. The correctness 



'34 



ISSUES OF 1873-75. 



Fletcher or cog 
wheel (Hindi. 



of this statement is vouched for by the Treasurer of the company, the 
Superintendent of the stamp department, the patentee of the process and the 
man who made the grill roller. In the collection of a New York amateur is 
an impression from the roller, on a sheet of white paper the size of a sheet of 
stamps. There are also in two New York collections, a very few copies of the 
grilled stamps. The grill is small and very clearly impressed. It measures 
7X x 9^ mm -> or 10x12 rows of points. The grills are placed 14mm. apart 
horizontally and 18mm. vertically. The bosses, instead of being perfect 
pyramids, as on previous grills, are not brought to a point but have the top 
truncated. Thus the impressions have the appearance of a group of tiny 
rectangles instead of crosses. 

What is known as the Fletcher or cog-wheel grill — patent 91,108, 
issued to C. A. Fletcher, June 8th, 1869 — was applied to the one and three 
cent stamps of this series. It was produced by eight punches, shaped like the 
letter u and placed in a circle with the openings inward. These punches cut 
through the paper but did not remove anything. The result was suggestive 
of a wheel with cogs. The expectation was that, the stamp having been 
attached to an envelope, it would be impossible to remove it without destroy- 
ing it. Ten thousand copies of these stamps were made and placed on sale 
in the post office at Washington, D. C, in the year 1877. 

The stamps of the 1873-75 series were also printed, by way of experi- 
ment, on various papers which had been chemically treated. They are known 
Chemical papers, on yellow-brown and violet paper, the latter both wove and laid. These 
papers being sensitive to chemicals, any attempt to remove the cancellation 
would at once become evident. Postmarked copies have been seen, but the 
stamps are not known to have been issued for postal use, and the best informed 
collectors regard them as being only essays. 

In the preceding chapter reference was made to stamps printed on the 
double paper patented by Charles F. Steel. The following extract from the 
Coin and Stamp Journal for January, 1877, indicates a somewhat extensive 
printing of the stamps of this issue on that paper : 

" It is not generally known, and will be news to our collectors, that about a year ago, 
20,000,000 stamps were issued to the public, printed on double paper. The upper portion 
receiving the impression was soft and porous and it was supposed that any attempt to clean 
off the cancelling mark would render the impressed portion perfectly pulpy and thus effectually 
destroy it. The stamps did not meet with much favor and the plan was abandoned." 

These stamps seem to have been lost sight of until a few years ago 
when search was made and a number of values discovered. The catalogues 
present quite an extensive list but it is doubtful if all these values were really 
printed on the double paper. Many stamps on the soft porous paper used 
by the American Bank Note Co. are not difficult to split and might be mis- 
taken for those on the double paper. But experienced collectors can usually 
tell the difference. As a rule, when an attempt is made to split the stamps 
of the American Bank Note Co., they do not separate smoothly for their 
entire length but the paper divides unevenly and the attempt results in tear- 
ing off a piece of the stamp. On the contrary, those which are really on the 
double paper will separate easily and evenly throughout. Occasionally these 
stamps may be separated by soaking them in water. There were apparently 



Double paper. 



ISSUES OF 1873-75. 



135 



only one or two printings and the collector who becomes familiar with the 
shades of the inks which were used can always tell the stamps by that means. 
Another variety of the double paper had the surface paper weakened 
by numerous short horizontal cuts, the object being, of course, to increase 
the difficulty of removing a cancellation. I have seen the three cent stamp 
printed on this paper, gummed and perforated like the regular issue. It is 
stated that this stamp was sold to the public at the post office at Washington, 
D. C. 

A somewhat similar patent was issued to the same patentee. In the 
application for the patent it is described as follows : 
169,125. (Filed March 15, 1875). 

Charles F. Steel, 

New York, New York. 
To all whom it may concern ; 

Be it known that 1, Charles F. Steel, Superintendent of the manufacture of postage 
stamps for the Continental Bank Note Company, in New York City, in the State of New 
York, have invented certain improvements relating to postage stamps of which the following 
is a specification : 

Many efforts have been made by myself and others to produce a practically successful 
postage stamp, from which the cancelling ink cannot be removed to allow of their fraudulent 
re-use. My present invention is for that purpose. 

I take a soft unsized paper, analogous to blotting paper, quite soft and absorbent. 
Having printed the face from the properly engraved plates, and allowed the ink thereon to 
dry properly, I treat the back with a soluction of starch of just a proper consistency, having 
the effect both to lay a thin coating or covering on the back surface, and also to fill the 
interstices between the fibers in the paper, so as to give the back surface of the paper a firmer 
character than the front. Then, after flattening in a press, I apply British gum or other 
adhesive layer on the back of the starch layer, and having again pressed the sheet of stamps, 
they are ready for shipment and used like ordinary stamps. My improved stamp is cheaper 
to produce than the double thickness stamp described in my patent of 1869 (No. 86,952) while 
it possesses in a great degree the same desirable qualities. The soft face will readily absorb 
the cancelling ink, and will be soaked and washed away on any attempt to remove the latter. 

This soft body paper should be of such a character, as to be removed and destroyed 
by a moderate friction after being wetted, care being taken to avoid employing so exteremely 
soft a paper as will become destroyed by ordinary unskillful manipulation in affixing the 
stamp. What is called in the trade " water leaf" paper will suffice. 

The layer of starch should be of such consistency as to strike a little, but only a little, 
into the thickness of the paper. The qualities of the soft body induce less disposition in the 
stamp to curl when moistened and applied on a letter, there is also less disposition to curl 
after the gumming, in the process of manufacture. Less care is required in the subsequent 
pressing and preparation, in the handling and shipment. A thinner and lighter paper may 
be employed. 1 claim as my invention — A Postage or Revenue stamp formed wholly of water- 
leaf or other soft and absorbent paper, provided on the back with a filling coating of starch 
or analogous material, and a superposed coating of ordinary gum, substantially as and foi 
the purpose set forth. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, on this 13th day of March, 1875, in 
the presence of two subscribing witnesses. 



Witne 



Chas. F. Steel. 



Wm. C. Dey, 

M. A. Van Namee. 



Stamps made according to this patent are occasionally seen. Postally 
cancelled copies have not been reported, but all, so far as we know, are can- 
celled with pen marks. They are, presumably, only essays. 

The paper used by the Continental Bank Note Co. varied greatly. The 
majority of the stamps are on a stiff, hard paper, varying from quite thin to 
moderately thick. A few copies have been seen which are on a semi-trans- 
parent, almost pelure paper. At some time during the second contract of this 
company, 1877 to 1881, a paper was introduced which somewhat resembles 
that used by the American Bank Note Co. in that it is porous, but it is thinner 



Variety of the 
double paper. 



Starched paper. 



The papers in 
regular use. 



136 ISSUES OF 1873-75. 

and not quite as soft. A few months before the consolidation with the 
American Bank Note Co., which took place February 4th, 1879, the Con- 
tinental Bank Note Co. began to use a thick, soft, porous paper, very similar 
to, if not the same as, that used after the consolidation, or from 1879 to 1894. 
It is practically impossible to distinguish the printings of the two companies 
on this paper and it seems best to attribute all such to the American Bank 
Note Co. I have seen authentic specimens of the one and three cents printed 
by the Continental Co. on this paper. The colors are soft, pale and rather 
blurred. The one cent is in pale blue and sky blue and the three cents in 
gray-green and deep green. The former value was printed from plates 307 
and 327 and the latter from plates 265 and 290. Beyond this I have no 
information regarding the printings on this paper. 

In addition to these papers and the double paper, previously men- 
tioned, there was a thick hard paper with vertical or horizontal ribbing. It 
uiiibeii paper. must be admitted that this is not an extremely interesting variety but, possibly 
because some values are difficult to find on this paper, it has attracted the 
attention of philatelists and attained a place in the catalogues. Many of 
the departmental stamps are quite common on ribbed paper and, on the 
contrary, some of the regular issue are scarce. Strange to say, most phila- 
telists pay very little attention to the former but seem eager to secure the 
latter. 

Mr. Crawford Capen says in the Post Office for February, 1897 (page 
151) : "The first use of paper of this kind was made in 1873, the largest use 
in 1874 and the final use late in 1 875 or possibly early in 1 876." The number 
of shades of the different values is comparatively limited and would seem to 
warrant the conclusion that the stamps represent a few printings but an 
extended period of distribution. 

Stamps on this paper are not easy to distinguish, at least not until one 
has acquired a certain degree of familiarity with their characteristics. A notable 
point is a richness and fullness of color, combined with clearness of impression 
and a high finish which often gives them a sort of sheen. By this quality and 
their characteristic shades an expert is frequently able to select stamps on this 
paper, without having to look for the ribs. By holding the stamps horizontally 
between the eye and a good light the ribbing may usually be detected. As a 
rule, it is vertical on the stamps of the regular issue and horizontal on the 
departmental stamps, though there are, of course, exceptions. Mr. Capen 
also recommends wetting the stamps thoroughly and watching them as they 
dry. The appearance of the ribbing is usually that of fine corrugations, but 
occasionally it is more like that of closely laid paper. Some of the stamps on 
the soft porous paper also present an appearance of ribs, but they are too 
close together and are only an effect of the wire-wove paper. Some of the 
department stamps, especially those of the Department of Justice, show, in the 
background of the medallion, distinct vertical lines, very like ribs. These are 
not the real thing but were caused by the fibres of the cloths, which were used 
in wiping the plates, and which drew the ink into slight ridges. 

The gum is yellowish or brownish ; on a very few specimens it is 
almost white. 



ISSUES OF 1873-75. 137 

The stamps are found in the following shades and varieties : Reference List. 

Perforated 12. 

White Wove Paper. 

May 1st, 1873. 1 cent pale ultramarine, ultramarine, deep ultramarine, 

pale dull blue, dull blue, chalky blue, pale gray- 
blue, gray-blue, sky blue, bright blue 

2 cents red-brown, deep red-brown, orange-brown, dark 

brown, black-brown, gray-brown, bistre-brown, 
brown 

3 cents bright yellow-green, pale yellow-green, yellow- 

green, deep yellow-green, green, dark green, blue- 
green, dark blue-green, olive-green, pale dull green, 
dull green, dark dull green, gray-green 

6 cents dull rose, brown-rose 

7 cents vermilion, scarlet-vermilion 

10 cents pale brown, brown, dark brown, chocolate, pale 
yellow-brown, yellow-brown, orange-brown, red- 
brown, pale gray-brown, gray-brown 

12 cents dull violet, deep violet, black-violet 

15 cents pale orange, orange, red-orange 

24 cents bluish purple, deep bluish purple 

30 cents gray-black, greenish black 

90 cents pale rose-carmine, rose-carmine 
Tune, 1875. 2 cents orange-vermilion, vermilion, scarlet vermilion, 

deep scarlet-vermilion 

5 cents blue, dark blue, greenish blue, deep greenish 

blue 

Varieties : 

1 cent pale ultramarine. With grill yj^xgy^nam. 

2 cents dark brown 

3 cents green " 

6 cents dull rose 

7 cents vermilion 
12 cents dull violet 
15 cents pale orange 

1 cent ultramarine. Paper cut with a cog-wheel punch. 
3 cents blue-green 

2 cents scarlet-vermilion. Imperforate. 

3 cents dull green 
3 cents gray-green. Horizontal pair, imperforate between. 

10 cents brown " " " " 

Horizontally or Vertically Ribbed Paper. 

1873-76. 1 cent pale ultramarine, ultramarine, gray-blue, dull 

blue, sky blue 



138 ISSUES OF 1873-75. 

2 cents red-brown, orange-brown, dark orange brown, 

pale brown, brown 

3 cents yellow-green dark yellow-green, green, dark 

green, pale blue-green 

6 cents dull rose, brown-rose 

7 cents vermilion 

10 cents pale brown, brown 
12 cents black- violet 
15 cents deep orange, red-orange 
24 cents bluish purple (?) 
30 cents gray-black 
90 cents rose-carmine (?) 
2 cents vermilion 

5 cents dark blue 

Double Paper. 
1876. 1 cent dark ultramarine 

2 cents dark brown 

3 cents green, dark green, pale blue-green 

6 cents dull rose 
10 cents brown 

30 cents gray-black 

2 cents scarlet-vermilion 
5 cents dark blue 

Variety : 

3 cents dark blue-green. Surface paper weakened by 

short horizontal cuts. 
Soft Porous White Wove Paper. 
1878. 1 cent pale blue, sky blue 

3 cents gray-green, deep gray-green 

The twenty- four and ninety cents have been reported on ribbed paper 
but, until the information is confirmed by acknowledged experts, it seems 
best not to give full credit to the report. 

The plates of the 1873-75 issue contained two hundred stamps each. 
The impressions were divided vertically through the middle into sheets of 
Hates. one hundred stamps. The imprint appears at the middle of the top and 

bottom of each half of the plate. It is very much like the second style used 
by the National Bank Note Co. and reads "printed by the — continental 
bank-note co. new york.", in two lines of white capitals, on a panel with 
pearled edges and surrounded by a thin colored line. Between each imprint 
and the central dividing line appear "No." and the plate number. Numbers 
2 to 193 inclusive are ordinary numerals, inserted with punches. Numbers 1 
and 219 to 310 inclusive (excepting 233) are script numerals, from 5^ to 
7^mm. high, engraved on the plates. Of numbers T94 to 2 1 8 inclusive and 
233 nothing definite is known. These numbers were assigned to the news- 
paper and periodical stamps of the 1875 issue but there is no evidence that 
they were ever placed on the plates. 



ISSUES OF 1873-75. 



'39 



The plate numbers are 
1 cent 



Plate numbers. 



2 cents brown 



3 cents 



No. 12, 13, 16, 26, 125, 126, 127, 128, 142, 

143. '44, 146, 147, i5 6 - i57, i5 8 > »59> 

160, 181, 182, 229, 230, 294, 295, 298, 

2 99» 3°°, 3 OI > 3°7, 3°8- 

No. 2, 3, 4, 6, 16 r , 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 
167, 168, 169, 234, 24T, 242. 

2 cents vermilion No. 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 
> 6 9> 2 34> 2 4', 242, 245, 246, 296, 297. 

No. 1, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 19, 20, 
129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 135, 136, 138, 
139, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 

155, 170, 17T, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 

177, 178, i79» i 8o > l8 3, 184, 185, 186, 

187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 219* 

220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 

228, 231, 232, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 

240, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 

258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 

266,267, 2 68, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 

274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 

282, 283, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 
292, 293, 309, 310. 

No. 243, 244, 247, 248, 284, 306. 

No. 18, 21, 304, 305. 

No. 22. 

No. 23, 25, 302, 303. 

No. 24, 137. 

No. 31. 



5 cents 

6 cents 

7 cents 
10 cents 
12 cents 
15 cents 

The only plate numbers which have been found for the stamps on 
ribbed paper are : 

7 cents No. 22. 

15 cents No. 31. 

Much has been written concerning the use of hand and steam presses 
by the Continental Bank Note Co. It is certain that we find among the work 
of this company many poorly printed stamps, which some have claimed to be 
the product of steam presses. Among the stamps of this period we find many 
copies of what are known as " plain frames," i. e. stamps on which the outer 
part of the design is very faint and occasionally has almost disappeared. 
This is the only issue in which they are so numerous as to attract attention. 
It is more probable that they are due to poor workmanship and worn plates 
than to any fault of the presses, since many of these inferior stamps are of 
denominations which have always been printed by hand. 

The facts, however, are these. During the time of its contracts with 
the Government, the Continental Bank Note Co. was located in the Ball and 
Black building, at the corner of Broadway and Prince street, New York. At 



Printings on 
steam presses. 



140 



ISSUES OF 1873-75. 



Plates used on the 
steam press. 



Statistics of 
manufacture. 



this place they had nineteen hand presses and here most of the stamps were 
produced. The company had also an office in Greenwich street, where they 
had a steam press on which two plates could be used at one time. On this 
press were printed one, two and three cent stamps of the regular issue and 
two and three cent stamps of the Post Office Department. 

These are the only values which the company printed by steam. The 
press was used during the years 1873 to 876, though not constantly. At one 
time it was stopped for a year. For the Post Office Department 578,500 two 
cent and 480,000 three cent stamps were printed. Of the three values of the 
regular issue many millions were printed. 

The following plates were used on the steam press : 

1 cent No. 156, 157, 182. 

2 cents No. 166, 169, 246. 

3 cents No. 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 170, 171, 172, 

173. 174, >75. r 7 6 , 180, 187, 193. 

2 cents, P. O. Dept. No. 37, 38. 

3 cents " " No. 36, 40. 

The contracts from 1877 to 1885 stipulated that only hand presses 
should be used. It was not until the contract beginning July 1st, 1885, that 
printing by steam presses was required and then only for the lower values. 

The records of the Stamp Agent show the following quantities of 
stamps to have been printed and delivered to him : 

Year Ending December 31ST : 

1873. l8 74- l8 75- l8 7 6 - Total. 

1 cent 59,355, 000 117,930,000 122,937,500 148,067,500 448,290,000 

2 cents 39,013,000 58,206,550 87,372,500 68,505,000 253,097,050 

3 cents 248,132,500 436,919,500 481,156,500 495,085,000 1,661,293,500 



5 cents 

6 cents 

7 cents 
10 cents 
12 cents 
15 cents 
24 cents 
30 cents 
90 cents 



6,177,500 
588,500 
3,318,500 
1,000,000 
1,344-5°° 



17,659,000 
1,370,000 
3,795,000 
1,175,000 



590,000 
197,000 



9,870,000 
7,845,000 
1,120,000 

5.137-5°° 
740,000 

755-°°° 
365,000 



5,420,000 
6,630,000 

9,220,000 
95 2 -5°° 



192,500 



15,290,000 

38,311,500 

3,078,500 

21,471,000 

2,915,000 

3,052,000 

365,000 

782,500 

197,000 



This table settles definitely the much discussed question of printings 
of the twenty-four, thirty and ninety cent stamps by the Continental Bank 
Note Co. 

I regret that I am unable to supply any information regarding the 
quantities of stamps manufactured after the year 1876. I had hoped to obtain 
the figures but, thus far, my efforts have been unavailing. 

The annual reports of the Postmaster General supply the following 
statistics of stamps distributed to deputy postmasters : 



ISSUES OF 1873-75. 



141 



St. 


imps issued c 


unng the hsc£ 


l1 year ending 


June 30th, 18 


74 : Deliveries to 
postmasters. 






Quarter Ending: 








Sept. 30, 1873. 


Dec. 31, 1873. 


Mch. 31, 1874. 


June 50, 1874. 


Total. 


1 cent 


21,545,600 


25, 6 4i, 7°° 


31,548,400 


32,338,200 


it 1,073,900 


2 cents 


",365,05° 


17,247,600 


14,689,500 


16,790,100 


60,092,250 


3 cents 


106,718,300 


108,041,600 


115,068,100 


111,708,600 


44T,536,6oo 


6 cents 


2,953,95° 


2,636,550 


3,394,°5° 


3,014,300 


11,998,850 


7 cents 


229,700 


231,100 


413,700 


35 I ,3°° 


1,225,800 


10 cents 


832,490 


827,010 


1,028,360 


1,183,570 


3,871,430 


12 cents 


3 l6 >475 


281,050 


330,825 


376,375 


1,304,725 


15 cents 


495, '4° 


324,100 


85,700 


49,100 


954,040 


24 cents 


54,125 


86,675 


102,500 


42,075 


285,375 


30 cents 


55,42o 


126,130 


100,040 


44,890 


326,480 


90 cents 


10,680 


17,980 


17,040 


18,270 


63,970 


Whole number 


of stamps 632 


,733,420. Va 


ue $17,275,24 


2.00. 



Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1875 : 
Quarter Ending : 



Sept. }o, 1874. Dec. 31, 1874. Mch. 31, 1875. June 30, 1875 

98 11? ?oo ■J A ">nft Too -?8 act inn •»<-> r>-?T too 



i cent 28,373,200 34,206,700 38,451,300 

2 cents 13,728,800 15,808,500 17,883,100 

3 cents 109,835,800 116,605,603 118,961,600 



5 cents 

6 cents 

7 cents 
10 cents 
12 cents 
15 cents 
24 cents 
30 cents 
90 cents 



2,801,650 
349,800 

899,55o 
257,55o 
113,760 

86,525 

108,830 

20,090 



2 ,756,7oo 
425,700 

1,043,23° 
310,000 
107,960 

35,175 
74,020 

8,710 



3,197,400 

415,000 

1,081,780 

334,5oo 

212,400 

44,5 2 5 
5M7° 
9,200 



29,921,100 

21,982,800 

115,932,500 

363,180 

2,892,450 

381,400 

',435,69° 
418,175 
199,260 

'°5,55° 
102,890 
7,650 



Whole number of stamps 682,342,470. Value $18,271,479.00. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1876 : 
Quarter Ending : 
Dec. 31, 1875. Mch. 31, 1876 



Total. 

I3°,95 2 ,3°° 

69,4'3, 2 °° 

461,325,5°° 

363,180 

11,648,200 

1,571,900 

4,460,250 

1,320,225 

633,3%° 

271,775 

33 6 ,9 10 

45,650 



Sept. 30, 1875. 

1 cent 25,036,600 

2 cents 16,647,000 

3 cents 112,466,600 
5 cents 3,241,620 



6 cents 
10 cents 
15 cents 
30 cents 
90 cents 



1,394,55° 

1,243,620 

131,320 

40,460 
4,100 



30,909,700 

19,696,200 

120,030,400 

2,033,420 

1,950,200 

1,188,910 

263,840 

119,260 

6,980 



33A27,3o^ 

i9,934,4°° 

120,640,200 

2,510,860 

1,830,900 

i,97°,53° 
331,860 

100,040 

9,38o 



June 30, 1876. 
35,853,200 
18,280,000 

121,529,000 
2,123,400 

i,949, 8 5° 

h 595,67° 

215,140 

89,680 

2,900 



Total. 
125,226,800 

74,557,6°° 

474,666,200 

9,909,300 

7,125,5°° 

5,998,73 

942,160 

349,44° 
23,3 6 ° 



Whole number of stamps 698,799,090. Value $18,773,454.00. 



142 



ISSUES OF 1873-75. 



Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1877 : 
Quarter Ending : 





Sept. 30, 1876. 


Dec. 31, 1876. 


Mch. 31, 1877. 


June 30, 1877. 


Total. 


I 


cent 


25,520,800 


34,380,800 


41,494,000 


40,070,000 


141,465,600 


2 


cents 


16,489,500 


16,2 1 1,300 


19,070,900 


17,921,150 


69,692,850 


3 


cents 


111,583,700 


1 12,827,900 


116,530,000 


ns,^ 2 ^ 00 


45 6 > I 33>9° 


5 


cents 


i,93 I »48o 


7,968,440 


2,499,240 


2,313,600 


8,712,760 


6 


cents 


1,419,400 


1,213,800 


1,747,700 


i,55 8 i i S° 


5,939,°5° 


10 


cents 


r,35J>5 8 ° 


».397»5 6 ° 


1,912,260 


i,793.°4° 


6,454,44° 


15 


cents 


171,720 


130,000 


289,500 


229,420 


820,640 


3° 


cents 


64,620 


5 8 ,5 2 ° 


114,450 


90,180 


327,770 


90 


cents 


3,680 


19,000 


7>3 2 ° 


3,660 


33,66o 



Whole number of stamps 689,580,670. Value $18,181,676.00. 



Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1878 
Quarter Ending : 

Dec. 31, 1877. Mch. 31, 1878. 

43,103,600 45,931,400 

16,756,500 20,093,000 

118,525,600 130,316,300 

2,247,640 2,961,640 



Sept. 30, 1877. 

1 cent 34,402,700 

2 cents 15,542,400 

3 cents 115,943,700 
5 cents 1,968,780 



June 30, 1878. Total. 

40,296,700 163,734,400 

•7,993,6oo 70,366,500 

118,542,900 483,328,500 

2,656,040 9,834,100 



1,419,500 


5,936,550 


2,145,270 


7,855,480 


193,700 


970,600 


60,500 


411,960 


4,700 


23,850 



6 cents 1,523,350 1,266,200 1,727,500 

10 cents 1,651,880 1,613,860 2,444,470 

15 cents 183,240 233,020 360,640 

30 cents 65,600 105,010 180,850 

90 cents 12,040 2,960 4,150 

Whole number of stamps 742,461,940. Value $19,468,61800. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1879 : 

Quarter Ending : 

Dec. 31, 1878. Mch. 31, 1879. June 30, 1879. Total. 

47,287,000 48,958,600 47,405,400 180,030,400 
18,654,800 21,576,300 
122,577,100 129,675,600 
2,375,32° 3, T 3 8 ,8oo 
6 cents 1,382,600 1,430,600 1,686,200 1,254,000 5,753,4°° 

10 cents 1,767,690 2,065,890 2,615,(30 2,274,380 8,723,090 
15 cents 200,660 239,160 382,040 178,500 1,000,360 

30 cents 71,180 97,240 128,170 9 2 ,35° 388,940 

90 cents 4,920 5,600 6,270 4,580 21,370 

Whole number of stamps 774,358,780. Value $20,117,259.00. 
After February 4th, 1879, when the Continental Bank Note Co. was 
consolidated with the American Bank Note Co., the latter assumed and com- 
pleted the contract held by the former company. Doubtless, many of the 
stamps distributed in the last two quarters of the fiscal year ending June 
30th, 1879, were the product of the American Bank Note Co., but it is not 



Sept. 30, 1878, 

1 cent 36,379,400 

2 cents 15,820,600 

3 cents 115,967,700 
5 cents 2,143,860 



18,309,900 74,383,600 

125,633,60° 493,854,°oo 

2,545,640 10,203,620 



ISSUES OF 1873-75. I43 

possible to separate the stamps of the two companies in the official statistics 
and the report of the Postmaster General must be taken as it stands. 

By an order of Postmaster General Frank Hatton, dated January 14th, 
1885, a committee was appointed to cancel various plates for printing stamps, 
both ordinary and official. This committee was also to destroy certain stamps Remainders 
which were no longer required, including 545,600 of the seven, 503,750 of the destroyed, 
twelve, and 364,950 of the twenty-four cents. The committee reported, on 
February 24th, 1885, that they had carried out their instructions. The especial 
object of this order was the destruction of the remainders of the official stamps, 
and a more extended reference to this event will be made when considering 
those stamps. 



Issue of 1879. 



Plates of other 
companies used. 



Reference List. 



On February 4th, 1 879, the Continental Bank Note Co. was consolidated 
with the American Bank Note Co., under the name of the latter. The con- 
tracts of the former company were assumed by the new organization. Sub- 
sequent contracts were also secured by the American Bank Note Co., who 
continued to supply the stamps required by the Post Office Department until 
January 1st, 1894. 

As has been previously stated, the Continental Bank Note Co. began, 
about the end of 1878 or the beginning of 1879, to use a soft porous paper for 
their stamps. The American Bank Note Co. continued the use of paper of this 
quality, as it was found to give the best results, especially when steam presses 
were employed. The new company used many of the plates of its pre- 
decessor, also the plates of the National Bank Note Co. for the thirty and 
ninety cent and probably for some of the ten cent stamps. It is certain 
that ten cent stamps without the secret mark, and which are undoubtedly 
the work of the American Bank Note Co., exist. It is claimed by some 
writers that these are from the Continental Bank Note Co's plates from which 
the secret mark has worn away. In support of this statement pairs and blocks 
are reported, on which the mark shows with varying degrees of indistinctness 
and is sometimes almost invisible. It is scarcely possible that this claim is 
correct, as the secret mark is deeply cut and ought to be about the last thing 
to wear away. And there are certain other points about the stamps which 
are peculiar to the plates of the National Bank Note Co. and which lead me 
to believe they are from those plates. The question can only be settled by 
finding the stamps with marginal imprint or plate number or by examination 
of the records of the contractors. It is to be regretted that there is no pros- 
pect that the privilege of making such an examination will be granted. 

The gum used by the American Bank Note Co was generally yellowish 
but occasionally it was quite brown and, in their later printings, was sometimes 
almost white. 

The stamps are found in the following shades : 
Soft Porous White Wove Paper. 
Perforated 12. 
1879. 1 cent pale bright blue, bright blue, deep bright blue, 

sky blue, blue, dark blue, gray-blue, dull blue, 
dark dull blue, dark ultramarine 



ISSUE OF 1879. 



145 



2 cents vermilion, scarlet-vermilion, orange-vermilion, 

orange 

3 cents pale bright green, yellow-green, dull green, deep 

dull green, gray-green, dark green, myrtle green 

5 cents blue, dark blue, indigo 

6 cents pale dull rose, dull rose, brown-rose 
10 cents (National plate) yellow-brown 

10 cents pale yellow-brown, yellow-brown, orange-brown, 
red-brown, gray-brown, brown, dark brown, black- 
brown 

15 cents pale orange-yellow, orange-yellow, orange, red- 
orange, orange-red, pale red 

30 cents (National plate) gray-black, greenish black 

30 cents full black, jet black 

90 cents (National plate) dull carmine-rose, carmine-rose, 
rose-carmine 

Variety : 

90 cents carmine-rose. Imperforate. 

Except when otherwise stated, these stamps were printed from the 
plates of the Continental Bank Note Co. or from plates made from the dies 
of that company. The following plates of the Continental Co. are known to 
have been used by the American Co.: 



1 cent 


No. 


301. 




2 cents 


No. 


296, 


297. 


3 cents 


No. 


292, 


3°9- 3'° 


6 cents 


No. 


3°5- 




5 cents 


No. 


3»- 





List of Continental 
plates used. 



The following plates were probably used : 

5 cents No. 306. 

6 cents No. 304. 

10 cents No. 302. 303. 

It is reasonable to suppose that many other plates of the lower values 
were used. 

In the course of time, as they were required, new plates were made. 
They bore the imprint "American bank note company", in heavy faced, 
shaded capitals, without frame or other surroundings. The imprints and plate 
numbers occupied the same positions as on the plates of the previous contrac- 
tors. The numbers were all in small italic numerals. The plates contained two 
hundred stamps each, and the impressions were divided vertically into sheets 
of one hundred stamps, as in the preceding issues. 

The numbers of these plates were as follows : 

1 cent No. 319, 320, 327, 328, 336, 337, 344, 353, 354, 355, 

35 6 - 

2 cents No. 338, 339, 391, 392, 393, 394, 412, 4T3. 



Plates of the 

American Rank 

Note Co. 



Plate numbers. 



146 ISSUE OF 1879. 

3 cents No. 311, 312, 321, 322, 323, 324, 329, 330, 334, 335, 
340, 341, 341A, 342, 343, 345, 346, 347, 348, 

349. 35°> 35 OA > 35 1 , 352, 357, 358. 
5 cents No. 325, 326, 379, 380. 
10 cents No. 377, 378. 
30 cents No. 405. 

During the years 1881 to 1888 inclusive there were many changes in 
the engraving, designs and colors of the stamps, also stamps of the 1870 types 
and colors were in issue concurrently with the new varieties. As official statis- 
tics only take notice of values, it is impossible to decide how many stamps of 
each particular variety were issued and I can only reprint the tables as they 
are given in the reports of the Postmaster General ; they will be found at the 
end of the next chapter. 



Issues of 1881-88. 



Issue of 1881-82. 



About 1881 the contractors decided to deepen the lines of certain 
of the designs, in order that the wiping of the plates might be made easier 
and heavier impressions produced. Four values were so treated. Phila- 
telists are accustomed to speak of these stamps with deepened lines as being 
re-engraved but this is not altogether correct. The dies of the one and three 
cents were retouched and those of the six and ten cents were re-engraved 
(/. e. newly engraved) except the busts. The distinction is somewhat technical. 
It cannot be claimed that either process improved the appearance of the 
stamps. Their delicacy and clearness were destroyed and the impressions 
from the altered designs are heavy, blurred and uneven. The stamps may 
be distinguished by the following peculiarities : 

One cent. The vertical lines of the background have been much 
deepened in the upper part of the stamp, so that, in many impressions, the 
background appears to be solid Lines of shading have been added inside 
the arabesques in the upper corners. The fine shadings outside the arabesques 
and at the ends of the upper label have been nearly obliterated by the recut- 
ting. Mr. Tiffany describes three varieties of this stamp, distinguished 
principally by the condition of the oval below the bust, as showing either a 
light spot, a shadow, or a background of uniform solidity. These varieties 
are not in any way due to differences in engraving but to the amount of ink 
on the plate and perhaps, in some small degree, to the condition of the plate 
as regards wear. 

Three cents. Vertical lines have been added to the background of 
the medallion, but they can only be seen on proofs or very clearly printed 
copies. The vertical lines of the shield have been deepened, making the 
shadows of the medallion appear, by contrast, only about one-half as wide as 
before. At the bottom the horizontal lines of the background have been 
deepened, thus obliterating the fine vertical shadings below the ends of the 
ribbon bearing the value. A short horizontal dash has been cut, about a 
millimetre below the " ts " of " cents ". 

Six cents. The horizontal lines of the panel have been re-engraved, 
obscuring the shadings of the edges and of the oval and giving it a uniformly 
solid appearance. The vertical lines of the background have also been 



Retouched and 
re-engraved dies. 



Description of 
the alterations. 



148 



ISSUE OF Ii 



Sl-82. 



re-engraved. There are now only three of these lines at each side of the 
panel, where formerly there were four. 

Ten cents. The lines of the medallion, the shield and the back- 
ground have all been re-engraved. In the medallion the diagonal hatching 
lines have disappeared. At the left side, where there were formerly five vertical 
lines between the medallion and the edge of the shield, there are now but 
four. The fine vertical shadings below the ribbon bearing the value are 
nearly obliterated by the deepened horizonal lines of the background. The 
re-engraved die was made from a transfer of the old National die and so has 
not the secret mark. 

Mr. Tiffany says the re-engraved stamps began to appear in November, 
1882. This date is much too late for at least three values. The Philatelic 
Dates of issue. Record reported the one cent in March, 1882, the ten cents in June and the 
six cents in November of that year. The change in the three cents was made 
earlier than in any of the other values but does not appear to have attracted 
the attention of any of the philatelic journals. I have it on excellent authority 
that the three cents was recut in June, 1881, the one cent in July, 1881, the 
ten cents in March, 1882, and the six cents in May of that year, and that 
stamps from the new plates were issued to the public about one month later 
than the date named in each instance. 

About 1882 or 1883 two stamps of this series, the one and three cents, 
were printed on double paper, a very thin surface paper, backed by a thicker 
and harder paper. The surface paper was punctured by many small holes, 
about 1 j4mra. in diameter. These holes were arranged in circles — eight 
holes to a circle — and the circles were placed at such intervals that one would 
fall on each stamp. The printed stamps did not differ in appearance from 
the ordinary varieties but, of course, the ink had passed through the holes 
and portions of the design were printed on the backing paper. Any attempt 
to erase a cancellation would be almost certain to tear the thin surface paper, 
while the application of liquids would cause the stamp to separate into two 
parts, one showing a circle of small holes and the other a white surface with a 
circle of colored dots. These stamps are known to collectors as the " Douglas 
patent." It is understood that 10,000 of them were printed. They were 
placed on sale at the city post office in Washington. After a trial, it was 
decided not to permanently adopt them and their issue was discontinued. 

The paper, gum, size of plates and location of the inscriptions and 
plate numbers are the same as in the issue of 1879. This remark will apply 
to subsequent issues by the American Bank Note Co. unless especial mention 
to the contrary is made. 

Reference List. Soft Porous White Wove Paper. 

Perforated 12. 
Aug. 1 88 1. 1 cent dull ultramarine, ultramarine, bright ultramarine, 

gray-blue, slate-blue, dull blue, chalky blue 
July 1 88 1. 3 cents yellow-green, gray-green, blue-green 

June 1882, 6 cents brown-rose, dull rose, claret, deep claret, Indian 

red 



' Douglas patent ' 
stamps. 



ISSUE OF 1881-82. ISSUE OF APRIL IOTH, 1882. 



149 



3 cents 



6 cents 
10 cents 



April 1882. 10 cents pale yellow-brown, yellow-brown, orange-brown, 

red-brown, olive-brown, brown, violet-brown, black- 
brown 

Double Paper. 

Die cut with a circle of small holes. 

1 cent gray-blue 
3 cents gray-green 

The following plates were used for this issue : 

1 cent No. 359, 360, 361, 362, 363, 364, 387, 388, 389, 390, 

4or, 402, 406, 407, 422, 423, 424, 425, 475. 

No. 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 
375. 376, 381, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 395, 396, 
397, 39 8 » 4o8, 409, 410, 411, 414, 415, 416, 417, 
418, 419, 420, 421. 

No. 426, 427. 

No. 403, 403A, 404, 404A, 480, 48 r. 

For the " Douglas patent " stamps the only plate numbers which we 
know are : One cent, No. 362 and three cents, No. 367. 

Beginning in 1885, the plates of the American Bank Note Co. bear a 
serial letter as well as a number. There are usually five plates to each letter. 
This change was occasioned by the use of a steam press which accommodated 
five plates at a time. It is obvious that, in printing with this press, the five 
plates must all be in the same stage of wear or the printing would be uneven. 
By means of the letters each group of plates could easily be kept together 
and, being subjected to an equal amount of work, they would remain in the 
same relative condition. A letter was usually assigned to the first plate of 
each denomination, even when only one plate was made, since more might 
be added later. 

Under this system the following plates were provided for the issue of 
1881-82 : 

1 cent No. C. 497, 498, 499, 500, 501. 

D. 502, 503, 504, 505, 506. 

I- 5 2 7> 5 2 8, 5 2 9- 53°, 53i- 
10 cents No. M. 547, 548, 549, 550, 551. 



Plate uu 111 bent. 



Serial letters. 



Plate numbers. 



Issue of April ioth, 1882. 

The five cent stamp with the portrait of General Taylor had never 
given satisfaction. The full-faced portrait was too large for its surroundings 
and also not in accord with the profile busts on the other values. After the 
death of President Garfield it was decided to place his portrait on the five 
cent stamp. The original intention was to print the stamp in black, the color 
of mourning — as was done with the fifteen cents of the 1866 issue, after the 
ath of President Lincoln — but the color finally adopted was a dark brown. 



Historical. 



»5° 



ISSUE OF APRIL IOTH, 1882. 



Design. The official description of the stamp is as follows : 

" Five cents (Garfield). On a rectangular-lined tablet, the greater 
portion of which is raised in the shape of a shield, is an elliptical medallion 
bearing the portrait of President Garfield. The medallion is bordered by a 
line of small white beads, the legend ' u. s. postage ', being at the bottom of 
the stamp in small black block letters. The words ' five ' and ' cents ' are 
above the legend and partly on the lower edge of the tablet, divided by a 
large five-pointed star, upon which is the white-faced figure ' 5 ' upon a black 
ground. The star is outlined with white, and the denomination words are 
each on lines curved downward at the ends." 

The stamp measure 20x25^111111. 

For several years the catalogues have listed two varieties of this stamp, 
the first having the background of the medallion composed of horizontal 
Varieties. lines crossed by fine diagonal lines, and the second showing the horizontal lines 

only. Although well aware that there was but one die for this value, I was, 
at one time, led to accept the two varieties, on the theory that they represented 
plates made from two transfers, one of which was not sufficiently deep to 
bring out the finer lines. It is now understood that the plates are all alike 
and all have the fine lines. The absence of the diagonal lines from a stamp 
is caused by the ink having been removed from them by too much pressure in 
wiping the plate and by the operation having been performed lengthwise of 
the lines instead of across them. It is also probable that wearing of the plate 
affects the appearance of the lines. 

It was intended to issue this stamp to the public on March 1st, 1882. 
The first delivery to the Post Office Department was made on February 7th, 
Date of issue. 1882. A few of the stamps were obtained by favor and used on the 14th of 
that month. They were also reported in the European philatelic journals in 
March of that year but, according to the report of the Postmaster General 
and the daily newspapers, they were not put on sale until April 10th, 1882. 

The stamps which were distributed in advance of their being- placed 

on sale at the post offices were very probably from the first sheet printed. This 

The first siieet. sheet appears to have been sent to the Post Office Department at Washington 

and treated somewhat as a curiosity. I am led to this conclusion by a copy 

of the stamp which has been shown me by Mr. C. F. Rothfuchs. This copy 

is attached to a printed form which was used by the Department when filling 

orders from private individuals for stamps. This form was in use during the 

time the reprints and re-issues were on sale, from 1875 to 1884, and possibly 

for even a longer period. It is addressed to a gentleman in the Post Office 

Department and reads as follows : 

Washington, D. C, 

Feb. 10th, 1882. 
Sir : — 

In response to your personal application of this day you will find herewith inclosed 
the following specimens of postage stamps, viz : 

Issue of 1882, i- — 5c Garfield, $005. 

This stamp is from the first sheet printed and one of the first sold by the Department. 

The stamp which is attached to this document is printed in a very 
dark brown having a tinge of red, instead of the grayish tone of the later 
printings. 



ISSUE OF APRIL IOTH, 1882. ISSUE OF OCTOBER 1ST, I( 



'5 1 



Soft Porous White Wove Paper. 

Perforated 12. 

April 10th, 1882. 5 cents yellow-brown, bistre-brown, Van Dyke brown, 

black-brown, gray-brown, gray 

The plates for this issue were numbered as follows : 
5 cents No. 399, 400, 488, 489 

K. 537, 53§> 539. 54©, 54« 



Reference List. 



Issue of October ist, 1883. 



An Act of Congress, approved March 3rd, 1883, provided as follows : 

" Upon all matter of the first class (as defined by chapter 180 of the Laws of Congress, 
approved March 3rd, 1870, entitled : An Act, etc.) postage shall be charged, on and after Historical. 

the first day of October, A. D., 1883, at the rate of two cents for each half ounce or fraction 
thereof, and all acts, so far as they fix a different rate of postage than herein provided upon 
said first class matter, are to that extent hereby repealed." 

Concerning this change the report of the Postmaster General, dated 

November 8th, 1883, says : 

" Soon after the passage of the Act of March 3rd, 1883, preparations were begun to 
carry the new law into effect. The change left the 3-cent denomination of postage stamps of 
little utility, it no longer representing the single rate of postage on any class of matter, and it 
was determined to discontinue its issue. As the public would undoubtly have regarded with 
disfavor the dropping of Washington from portraits forming the distinguishing feature in 
the series of postage stamps, it was decided to replace the old 2-cent stamp by a new one 
bearing the profile of the first President, thus restoring it to its old place on the stamp in 
most general use. It was also decided to issue a new stamp of the value of four cents, a 
denomination not previously in use, and designed to cover two rates of letter postage. The 
portrait of Jackson, formerly on the 2-cent stamp, was transferred to this new (4-cent) stamp." 

The official description of these two stamps is as follows : Designs. 

" Two cents. A plain tablet ; above the oval surrounding the head 
are the words 'united states postage ' and underneath the tablet are the 
words ' two cents.' It may be added that the tablet is shaped like the 
shield on the 3 cent stamp of this series and that the figure ' 2 ' separates 
the words ' two ' and 'cents,' which form a straight line, resting partly on 
the point of the tablet and partly on the darkly shaded ground below. This 
is the first stamp of the series with the legend unabbreviated. The medallion 
is elliptical, and bears the profile bust of Washington. 

Four cents. The tablet is rectangular and beveled, covering the 
entire stamp, the lower half in solid color. The legend, like that on the 2 
cent stamp of even date, is in the unabbreviated form, ' united states post- 
age,' following the upper line of an elliptical medallion, bearing the profile 
bust of Andrew Jackson, and is in small white capitals. In each lower corner 
is a large white figure ' 4.' Below these and in an unbroken straight line are 
the words ' four cents,' in small white capitals with a very small star at the 
right and left and immediately under the figure '4'." 

These stamps are both of the same size, 20x253^111111. 

It has been claimed that there are two varieties of the two cent stamp, varieties of the 
distinguishable by the presence or absence of a shadow below the shield, but two cent stamp. 



152 



ISSUE OF OCTOBER 1ST, 1883. 



these differences are entirely due to the amount of ink applied and to the 
condition of the plates. 

According the report of the Postmaster General the stamps were issued 

Date of issue. or r 

on October ist, 1883. 
Reference List. Soft Porous White Wove Paper. 

Perforated 12. 

Oct. 1 st, 1883. 2 cents orange-brown, red-brown, copper-brown, metallic 
red, Indian red 
4 cents deep green, blue-green, dark blue-green 
Plate numbers. The following plates were made for these stamps : 

2 cents No. 430, 431, 432, 433, 434, 435, 436, 437, 438, 

439, 440, 44*, 442, 443. 444, 445- 446, 447, 

448, 449, 450, 45 t, 452, 453, 454, 455, 458, 

459, 460, 461, 462, 463, 465, 466, 467, 468, 

469, 470, 471 472, 473, 474, 476, 477, 478, 

479- 

A. 483, 484, 485, 486, 487- 

B. 490, 491, 492, 493, 494. 

E. 507, 508, 509, 510, 5ri. 

F. 5 12 , 5 r 3, 5 £ 4, 5'5, 5 J 6- 

G. 517, 5 l8 , 5 r 9> 5 2 °> 5 21 - 
H - 5 22 > 5 2 3, 5 2 4, 525, 526. 
J- 53 2 , 533, 534, 535, 53 6 - 
N. 553, 554, 555, 55 6 , 557- 
O. 55 8 , 559, 5 6 °, 561, 562. 
P- 5 6 3, 5 6 4, 5 6 5, 5 66 , 5 6 7- 
Q. 568, 569, 570, 571, 572. 
U. 588, 589, 590, 591, 592. 

v - 593, 594, 595, 596, 597- 
4 cents No. 456, 457. 

L- 54 2 , 543, 544, 545, 546. 

The Philatelic Record for December, 1888, says : " Mr. F. De Coppet 
has sent us a specimen of the 2 cents red brown (head of Washington) on 
Laid paper. paper laid horizontally." A similar note subsequently appeared in various 
other journals. When the De Coppet collection was offered at auction this 
stamp was listed as lot 2002. I have not been able to trace the copy further 
than this. I am inclined to doubt that the stamp was really on laid paper. 
Among stamps of the current and recent issues we frequently find copies 
which show what appear to be laid lines. Experts in printing, however, pro- 
nounce these lines to be merely an effect produced by a worn blanket on the 
printing press, the threads being pressed into the damp paper in printing. It 
is possible that Mr. De Coppet's stamp belonged in this category. 

The stamps of this and various earlier issues are found surcharged 
Specimen" stamps. " specimen ". This overprint was applied to stamps intended for distribution 
to foreign countries through the Universal Postal Union. The complete set 
comprises the following varieties : 



ISSUE OF OCTOBER 1ST, 1 883. ISSUE OF JUNE I5TH, 1887. 



'S3 



Ordinary postage stamps. Issue of 1879 : 15, 30, 90c 

Issue of 1881-82 : 1, 3, 6, 10c 
Issue of Apl. 1882 : 5c 
Issue of Oct. 1883 : 2, 4c 
Special Delivery stamps. Issue of 1885 : 10c 

Newspapers and Periodical stamps. Issue of 1879-85 : ic to $60 
Postage Due stamps. Issue of 1879 : 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 30, 50c 

The report of the Third Assistant Postmaster General, dated Nov. 5th, 
1887, says : 

" Upon the change in the rate of postage on fust class matter, from 3 to 2 cents a 
half ounce, on the 1st of October, 1883, large quantities of 3 and 6 cent stamps and stamped 
envelopes were left in the hands of the postmasters and of the public. As those in the hands 
of the public could not be used, except at a loss, under the new rate, it was thought to be 
just that the Department should redeem them by giving the 2 cent denomination of stamps 
and envelopes for them. Orders to this effect were accordingly given to postmasters, Decem- 
ber 12, 1883; but at the same time, they were forbidden to send to the Department the 
stamps and envelopes thus redeemed. The result was a large and very general accumulation 
of unsalable stock in the post offices, over one-third probably of all the post offices in the 
country having more or less of it. On January 1, 1886, it was determined to relieve post- 
masters of this accumulation of valueless material ; but as the volume of it was so great that 
it could not be conviently handled if called in at once, circulars were sent monthly to a 
limited number of postmasters, directing them to return to the Department whatever amount 
they might have on hand. As fast as the stock was received under these notices it was 
counted and destroyed, the proper credits for it being given postmasters in their accounts. 

By February, 1887, this unsalable stock had become so greatly reduced that all post- 
masters were instructed to return at once such of it as they might still have on hand." 

Mr. Tiffany says the face value of the stamps and envelopes destroyed 
"soon reached the comfortable little sum of $731,503.61." 

The contract for the manufacture of postage stamps, for the four years 
beginning July 1st, 1885, was awarded to the American Bank Note Co- 
This contract provided that all ordinary postage stamps were to be printed 
on steam presses. The custom of specifying that the paper should be equal 
to the sample attached to the contract was also changed and a standard paper, 
made according to a formula, was required. 

By Act of Congress, approved March 30th, 1885, the rate of postage 

on first-class matter was further modified. The Act provided as follows : 

" That upon all matter of the first class, as defined by Chapter 180 of the Laws of 
Congress, approved March 3rd, 1879, entitled : An Act, etc., and by that Act declared sub- 
ject to postage at the rate of three cents for each half ounce or fraction thereof, and reduced 
by Act of March 3rd, 1883, to two cents for each half ounce or fraction thereof, postage 
shall be charged, on and after the first day of July, 1885, at the rate of two cents for each 
ounce or fraction thereof ; and drop letters shall be mailed at the rate of two cents per ounce 
or fraction thereof, including delivery at letter carrier offices, and one cent for each ounce or 
fraction thereof where free delivery by carriers is not established." 



Redemption of the 

tliree aud six cent 

stamps. 



Contract requiring 

printing by steam 

and standard 

paper. 



Postal rates 
modified. 



Issue of June 15TH, 1887. 

A one cent stamp of a new design was issued on June 15th, 1887. It is 
officially described as follows : 

" One cent. A profile bust of Benjamin Franklin upon a disk with 
shaded background, the lower portion of the oval disk being bordered with 
pearls, and the upper portion with a curved panel, containing, in small white 
letters, the words ' united states postage.' The whole is engraved in line 



Design. 



154 



ISSUE OF JUNE 15TH, 1887. — ISSUES OF 1887-88. 



upon a shield-shaped tablet with a truncated pyramidal base, bearing on it 
the words ' one cent ' on either side of the figure ' 1 '." 
The stamp measures 20x25 J^mm. 

Reference List. Soft Porous White Wove Paper. 

Perforated 12. 
June 15th, 1887 1 cent dull ultramarine, ultramarine, bright ultramarine 

Variety : 
1 cent dull ultramarine. Imperforate. 
Plate numbers. The plates used for this issue were numbered : 

1 cent No. R. 573, 574, 575, 576, 577. 
S- 578, 579. 580, 581, 582. 
T- 583, 584. 585, 586, 587. 
F.F. 644, 645, 646, 647, 648. 
G.G. 649, 650, 651, 65?, 653. 
J.J. 664, 665, 666, 667, 668. 
P.P. 694, 695, 696, 697, 698. 
U.U. 719, 720, 721, 722, 723. 



colors. 



Issues of 1887-88. 

By an official circular, dated August 15th, 1887, the following changes 
were announced : 

"On 01 about the 12th of September, 1887, the following changes in the series of 
postage stamps will be made : 
Changes in colors. The color of the 2-cent stamp will be green, instead of the present color, metallic red. 

The color of the 3-cent stamp (issues of which are still made to some of the larger post 
offices) will be vermilion instead of green." 

In addition to the above, the circular announced changes in the designs 
and colors of certajn of the stamped envelopes ; the four cents was to be 
other changes in printed in carmine, the five cents in blue, the thirty cents in brown and the 
ninety cents in purple. The two stamps and the envelopes were duly issued 
in the new colors and, during the next year, the four, five, thirty and ninety 
cent adhesives appeared in colors corresponding to those newly adopted for 
the envelopes of the same values. The philatelic journals chronicled the 
thirty cents in February, 1888, the five and ninety cents in March and the 
four cents in December, of that year. On the subject of these last changes 
the report of the Postmaster General for j 888 and the Postal Guide are both 
silent. The customary official circular, announcing the contemplated changes, 
appears also to have been omitted. 

Soft Porous White Wove Paper. 
Perforated 12. 
Sept. 12th, 1887. 2 cents pale bright green, bright green, deep green, yellow- 
green 
3 cents pale red, scarlet 
Dec. 1888. 4 cents rose-carmine, carmine 



lieference List. 



ISSUES OF 1887-88. 



155 



March 1888. 5 cents dark blue, indigo 

Feb. 1888. 30 cents brown-orange, orange-brown, deep orange-brown 

March 1888. 90 cents purple, bright purple 

Varieties : 

2 c,ents deep green. Imperforate 
5 cents dark blue 
30 cents orange-brown 
5 cents indigo. Pale pink paper 

The imperforate thirty cent stamps are from plate No. 405. 

The only copy of the five cent stamp on colored paper which I have 
seen was shown me by Mr. F. O. Conant. It had full original gum and 
presented a generally satisfactory appearance. Concerning it, Mr. Conant 
wrote : 

" The five cents blue, Garfield, on pink paper, is one of a lot of ten or 
fifteen, purchased at the Portland, Me., post office in 1889, by one of the local 
collectors. The paper appears to be too evenly colored to be the result of 
accident. Among the lot was a pair with the top margin. The color showed 
evenly on the margin, as on the stamps." 

In printing these stamps the following plates were used : 
2 cents No. N. 553, 554, 555, 556, 557. 

°- 55 8 > 559- 5 6o > 5 6l > 5 62 - 
P- 5 6 3, 5 6 4, 5 6 5> 5 66 > 5 6 7- 
Q- 5 68 , 569. 57°, 57', 572- 
U. 588, 589, 590, 591, 592. 

v - 593, 594, 595, 59 6 > 597- 
W. 598, 599, 600, 60 r, 602. 
X- 603, 604, 605, 606, 607. 
Y. 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, 613. 
Z. 614, 615, 616, 617, 618. 

A. A. 619, 620, 621, 622, 623 

B. B. 624, 625, 626, 627, 628 

C. C. 629, 630, 631, 632, 633 

D. D. 634, 635, 636, 637, 638 

E. E. 639, 640, 641, 642, 643 
H. H. 654,655,656,657,658 
I. I. 659, 660, 66 r, 662, 663 
K. K. 669, 670, 671, 672, 673 
L. L. 674, 675, 676, 677, 678 
M. M. 679, 680, 68r, 682, 683 
N. N. 684, 685, 686, 687, 688 
O. O. 689, 690, 691, 692, 693 
Q. Q. 699, 700, 701, 702, 703 
R. R. 704, 705, 706, 707, 708 
S. S. 709, 710, 71T, 712, 713 
T. T. 714, 715, 716, 717, 718. 



Five cent stamp 
on pink paper. 



I'late numbers. 



156 ISSUES OF 1887-88. ISSUES OF 1881-88. 

3 cents No. 421. 

4 cents No. L. 542, 543, 544, 545- 546. 

5 cents No. K. 537, 538, 539, 540, 541. 
30 cents No. 405. 

90 cents No. 23 (National Bank Note Co.) 

It is possible that a few other and earlier plates may have been used 
for the two, four and five cent stamps. 

Plate 6 1 3 of the two cents was added to serial letter Y to replace plate 
611 which was broken. 



As has been said before, the reports of the Postmaster General make 
no distinction between stamps of the same value but of different issues. The 
following statistics of stamps delivered to deputy postmasters between July 
1 st, 1879, and June 30th, 1890, are, therefore, presented with the regret that 
they are not in more satisfactory shape for the purposes of philatelists. 

Deliveries to Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1880: 

postmasters. 

Quarter Ending : 

Sept. 30, 1879. Dec. 31, 1879. Mch. 31, 1880. June 30, 1880. Total. 

1 cent 42,968,000 54,511,200 66,025,900 62,944,700 226,449,800 

2 cents 16,289,750 18,865,550 23,080,900 18,349,500 76,585,700 

3 cents 128,951,300 129,452,900 148,615,700 134,583,700 541,603,600 

5 cents 2,606, t8o 3,021,100 3,847,340 3,297,160 12,771,780 

6 cents 1,496,150 1,329,200 1,850,000 1,689,350 6,364,700 
10 cents 2,209,580 2,266,220 3,194,350 2,679,780 10,349,930 
15 cents 266,120 243,140 307,440 298,420 1, t 15,120 
30 cents 84,640 95,280 134,010 101,620 415,550 
90 cents 7,700 7,080 5,620 5,390 25,790 

Whole number of stamps 875,681,970. Value $22,414,928.00. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1881 : 
Quarter Ending : 
Sept. 30, 1880. Dec. 31, 1880. Mch. 31, 1881. June 30, 1881. Total. 

1 cent 57,783,200 68,475,600 77,951,000 61,097,300 265,307,100 

2 cents 17,166,450 20,455,250 25,918,400 23,111,950 86,652,050 

3 cents 132,174,800 142,142,100 151,953,500 141,143,400 567,413,800 

5 cents 3,182,800 3,799,220 3,944,540 3,923,120 14,849,680 

6 cents 1,226,200 1,768,950 1,698,250 1,711,600 6,405,000 
10 cents 2,514,310 2,932,810 3-553> 62 ° 2,988,740 11,989,480 
15 cents 213,140 235,240 424,020 214,180 1,086,580 
30 cents 62,090 118,440 121,840 95,800 398,170 
90 cents 3,900 6,050 6,050 10,590 26,590 

Whole number of stamps 954,128,450. Value $24,040,627.00. 



ISSUES OF l88l-8S. 



*57 



Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, i< 
Quarter Ending : 



Sept. 30, 1881. 

1 cent 58,349,000 

2 cents 23,499,400 



Dec. 31, 1 881. Mch. 31, 1! 



69,592,200 

26,407,400 



78,612,900 
28,861,200 



June 30, 1882. 
77,380,600 
27,578,800 



3 cents 161,825,800 166,676,000 183,352,000 168,609,900 



5 cents 

6 cents 
10 cents 
15 cents 
30 cents 
90 cents 



4,030,440 
1,923,700 

2 ,955, 2I ° 

324,600 

90,280 

7.79° 



4,522,120 

1,922,750 

3.554,29o 

326,560 

142,290 

10,050 



5>i93>5 20 

2,108,300 

4,362,110 
53 6 >7 2 ° 

*53>9 10 

6,170 



5J53 1 * 200 

2,013,700 

3,670,080 

299,460 

123,920 

5,96o 



Total. 

28 3,934,7°° 

106,346,800 

680,463,700 

19,277,280 

7,968,450 

14,541,690 

',487,340 

510,400 

29,970 



Whole number of stamps 1,114,560,330. Value $28,679,528.00. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1883 : 
Quarter Ending : 

Sept. 30, 1882. Dec. 31, 1882. Mch. 31, 1883. June 30, 1883. Total. 

1 cent 69,662,500 84,371,300 94,134,200 86,031,000 334,199,000 

2 cents 24,177,300 32,501,100 32,435,000 30,777,650 119,891,050 

3 cents 167,930,400 174,138,800 182,868,500 174,862,100 699,799,800 

5 cents 5,226,760 5,733,46o 6,233,340 5,838,560 23,032,120 

6 cents 1,941,300 2,519,050 2,404,700 1,885,450 8,750,500 
10 cents 3,276,840 3,668,370 4,538,500 3,596,450 15,080,160 
15 cents 401,280 329,160 479,400 289,260 1,449,100 
30 cents 112,770 116,340 138,280 97,620 465,010 
90 cents 9,180 8,130 6,260 3,490 27,060 

Whole number of stamps 1,202,743,800. Value $30,307,179.00. 



Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1884 : 
Quarter Ending : 

Sept. 30, 1883. Dec. 31, 1883. Mch. 31, 1884. June 30, 1884. Total. 

1 cent 84,582,100 96,221,900 102,338,100 93,814,700 376,956,800 

2 cents 157,598,100 238,918,900 278,928,200 251,623,900 927,069,100 



3 cents 95,461,000 

4 cents 1,541,200 



5 cents 

6 cents 
10 cents 
15 cents 
30 cents 
90 cents 



5,'97,o8o 

898,050 

3,498,540 

282,340 

75,600 

7,250 



5,000 
5,244,200 
6,1 ii, 000 

3,712,420 

265,260 

1 10,910 

6,220 



25,200 

4,800,500 

7,57o,58o 

40,000 

4,885,750 

377,860 

150,930 
7,74o 



34,9°° 

4,558,050 

6,635,740 

53,75o 

3,9 l6 ,37o 

166,740 

96,460 

5,92° 



95,526,100 

'6,143,95° 

2 5,5 I 4,4oo 

991,800 

16,013,080 

1,092,200 

433,9°o 

27,130 



Whole number of stamps 1,459,768,460. Value $29,077,444.00. 



'58 



ISSUES OF I< 



Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1885 : 
Quarter Ending : 
Sept. 30, 1S84. Dec. 31, 1884 Mch. 31, 1885. June 30, 1885. Total. 

1 cent 80,576,800 90,425,900 97,158,000 96,403,200 364,563,900 

2 cents 244,084,350 247,443,400 279,510,900 266,120,800 1,037,159,450 



3 cents 

4 cents 

5 cents 

6 cents 
10 cents 
15 cents 
30 cents 
90 cents 



3,9 I 3, ,0 ° 
6,39 '>3 6 ° 

3,388,460 

2 55.54o 

89,160 

5> 8 7° 



200,000 66,00O T 53,000 419,000 

4,282,750 4,718,525 4,289,900 17,204,275 

6,716,700 7»756,340 6,958,940 17,823,340 

40,000 14,000 54,000 

4,090,170 4,761,940 4,057,520 16,297,790 

344,480 3 02 >9 00 273,940 1,176,860 

71,860 150,010 93,210 404,240 

3,860 4,910 5,440 20,080 

Value $28,429,628.00. 



Whole number of stamps 1,465,122,935. 



Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending'June 30th, 1886 : 
Quarter Ending: 
Sept. 30, 1885. Dec. 31, 1885. Mch. 31, 1886, 

1 cent 78,335,600 100,412,900 117,394,800 

2 cents 247,262,600 285,245,400 303,255,800 

3 cents 200,000 155,500 319,600 

4 cents 2,257,300 3,563, 850 3,008,150 



June 30, 1886. Total. 

114,386,800 410,530,100 
312,142,600 1,147,906,400 



5 cents 

6 cents 
10 cents 
15 cents 
30 cents 
90 cents 



5,999,860 

55.ooo 

3,594,110 

258,600 

64,950 
3.4io 



7,259,800 

50,700 

4,662,610 

348,500 

i35.45o 
7,77o 



8,652,680 

2,100 

5,012,440 

323.940 

126,400 

3.5oo 



201,200 
3,248,550 
7,875,080 

5o.5°° 

4.558,oio 

267,520 

75.930 

4,59° 



876,300 
12,077,850 

29.787,420 

158,300 

17,827,170 

1,198,560 

402,730 

19,270 



Whole number of stamps 1,620,784,100. Value $31,172,364.00. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1887: 
Quarter Ending : 

Sept. 30, 1886. Dec. 31,1886. Mch. 31,1887. June 30, 1887. Total. 

1 cent 80,669,900 117,101,800 124,744,900 109,769,700 432,286,300 

2 cents 249,142,600 351,213,400 326,290,200 319,516,150 1,246,162,350 

3 cents 61, ico 312,000 791,500 100,000 1,264,600 

4 cents 2,141,500 4,158,700 3.795.35° 3.343.3°° i3,43 8 ,95° 



5 cents 


6,258,400 


9 


,073,660 


9.553.4°o 


7,614,280 


32,499,740 


6 cents 


1 ,700 




1,000 


54,ooo 


1,000 


57,7oo 


10 cents 


3.582,3'° 


5 


,243,850 


5,933,240 


4,417,120 


19,176,520 


15 cents 


256,040 




540,780 


414,520 


419,520 


1,630,860 


30 cents 


89,710 




115.030 


130,900 


97,410 


433,050 


90 cents 


5,7io 




12,480 


8,45° 


8,810 


35,45° 



Whole number of stamps 1,746,985,520. Value $33,774,156.00. 



ISSUES OF 1881-88. 159 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1888 : 
Quarter Ending : 

Sept. 30, 1887. Dec. 31,1887. Mch. 31, 1888. June 30, 1888. Total. 

1 cent 89,936,700 113,015,900 125,318,700 121,718,200 443,989,500 

2 cents 296,217,000 348,012,100 368,931,300 334,520,200 1,347,680,600 

3 cents 101,500 604,100 1,884,700 1,441,100 4,031,400 

4 cents 2,976,250 3,750,700 3,924,675 3,592,125 14,243,750 

5 cents 7,704,880 8,718,160 10,740,620 9,045,560 36,209,220 

6 cents 61,000 100,000 5.600 166,600 

10 cents 4,320,780 5,239,780 5,699,870 4,671,230 19,931,660 

15 cents 277,020 451, 560 357» 6 4° 336,940 1,423,160 

30 cents 67,370 181,120 98,480 95,760 442,730 

90 cents 5,920 11,490 18,990 18,120 54,520 

Whole number of stamps 1,868,173,140. Value $36,293,183.00. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1889 : 
Quarter Ending : 

Sept. 30, 1888. Dec. 31, 18S8 Mch. 31, 1889. June 30, 1889. Total. 

1 cent 97,022,600 127,794,600 130,074,600 118,141,500 473,033,300 

2 cents 325,272,100 356,527,900 387,213,000 339,427,900 1,408,440,900 

3 cents 825,300 1,715,400 2,005,200 1,545,700 6,091,600 

4 cents 3> c 55>7oo 3,553650 4,018,900 3,744,100 14,372,350 

5 cents 8,492,220 9,224,540 10,202,080 9,116,680 37,035,520 

6 cents 110,000 9,200 50,500 i6,6co . 186,300 
10 cents 4,558,150 5.359,32° 5,7u,45o 5.355.02° 20 ,9 8 3>940 
15 cents 278,700 519,900 262,560 291.500 1,352,660 
30 cents 75.29° 116,840 158.30° 84,330 434,76o 
90 cents 6,400 8,410 11,800 22,900 49,510 

Whole number of stamps 1,961,980,840. Value $37,996,027.00. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1S90 : 
Quarter Ending : 

Sept. 30, 1889. Dec. 31, 1889. Mch. 31, 1890. June 30, 1890. Total. 

1 cent 164,097,000 88,688,400 154,806,500 143,659,400 551,251,300 

2 cents 455,168,500 305,910,500 424,057,300 390,981,500 1,576,117,800 

3 cents 3,588,900 1,085,500 2,805,400 2,666,500 10,146,300 

4 cents 5,872,150 2,184,050 5,050,800 3,782,200 16,889,200 

5 cents 12,815,920 6,501,240 10,411,180 9,851,580 39,579,920 

6 cents 228,500 17,100 612,650 465,950 1,324,200 
10 cents 6,439,050 4,427,610 6,671,150 4,961,210 22,499,020 
15 cents 603,560 218,680 334,86o 235,700 1,392,800 
30 cents 156,090 66,860 154,300 90,840 468,090 
90 cents i5,47o 2,150 34,96o i5. 8 5 68,430 

Whole number of stamps 2,219,737,060. Value $42,734,108 00. 



Issue of 18 



From the report of the Third Assistant Postmaster General, dated Oct. 
30th, 1890, we obtain the following information: 

"The old contract for adhesive postage stamps expired on the 30th of June, 1889. To 
afford time in which to make needful preparations for the new contract, the old contract 
Historical. was extended for a period of three months, until the 30th of September, under a right re- 

served to the Department by the terms of the contract. 

After a full examination of the subject an advertisement was issued, under date of June 
17, 1889, calling for sealed proposals, to be received until the 17th day of July, for furnishing 
all the stamps which should be called for during the four years commencing October 1, 1889. 
The specifications furnished to bidders set forth the requirements of the contract with the 
utmost minuteness. They will be found in full in a copy of the contract in the appendix to 
this report. 

The call was made for bids for ordinary stamps of two different sizes, to wit, those 
then in use, measuring 1 by 25-32 inch, and a smaller size, measuring % by % inch. The 
sizes and styles of newspaper and periodical, postage-due, and special-delivery stamps were 
left unchanged. 

An important change was that the color of each of the several denominations of stamps 
was prescribed by the specifications, with the purpose of preventing arbitrary and un- 
necessary changes during the existence of the contract. Samples of the stamps in the 
selected colors, appropriately cancelled, were attached to the specifications and blank forms 
of proposal furnished to bidders. Proposals were called for separately for stamps to be 
printed, first by hand-presses; second, by steam-power presses in which a portion of the 
work is to be done by steam and a portion by hand ; and third by steam power presses on 
which all the work is done by steam ; with the right reserved to the Department to make the 
award upon any one of the three classes of bids. The classification of the bids will appear 
fully in the copy of the specifications referred to. * * * 

In response to the advertisement two bids were submitted, one by Mr. Charles F. 
Steel, of Philadelphia, and the other by the American Bank Note Company, of New York, 
the old contractors for furnishing stamps. The bid of Mr. Steel amounted, upon the basis 
referred to, to $1 55,017.39 for stamps of the larger size, and to $151,489.96 for stamps of 
the smaller size printed on hand-roller presses; to $124,642.36 for stamps of the larger size, 
and to $122,094 77 for stamps of the smaller size printed on steam-power presses on which 
a part of the work is done by steam and a part by hand; and to $120,723 for stamps of the 
larger size, and to $1 17,587.51 for stamps of the smaller size printed on all steam-power 
presses. The bid of the American Bank Note Company was for printing the ordinary 
stamps on steam-power presses only, and for the remaining kinds of stamps on hand-roller 
presses only, and the totals were $158,033.87, comprehending ordinaiy stamps of the larger 
size, and $148, 235.47 embracing ordinary stamps of the smaller size. The difference be- 
tween the amount of this bid and that of Mr. Steel for stamps printed on all steam-power 
presses was $37,310.87 for stamps of the larger size, and $30,647.96 for stamps of the smaller 
size. 

At the opening in public of the bids, a protest was made by the American Bank Note 
Company against the award to Mr. Steel, on the ground that he was not eligible as a 
bidder under the terms of the advertisement restricting the bids to steel-plate engravers and 
plate-printers. This protest was shortly afterwards withdrawn, and, preliminary to an 
award, Mr. Steel was, upon the 1st of August, called upon to demonstrate his facilities for 
carrying out the contract. Though not engaged in the business, and being unprovided with 
a plant for printing and engraving, he promised to procure all the necessary equipment and 
material in time to manufacture and begin the delivery of the stamps on the 1st of 
October, or shortly thereafter. The specifications called for a fire-proof building in which 



ISSUE OF 1890. 



l6l 



to manufacture and store the stamps, but though called upon repeatedly to do so, Mr. Steel 
failed to submit for inspection suitable premises for the purpose. He offered only one build- 
ing, though promising a choice of several different ones, and that building utterly failed to 
meet the requirement. The award was consequently witheld, and it becoming evident that 
Mr. Steel was either unwilling or unable to comply with his proposal, the Postmaster- 
General, under date of September 1 1, 1889, issued an advertisement calling for new proposals 
for a contract for the four years commencing December 1, 1889. At the same time provis 
ion was made for a temporary supply of stamps for the interval between October 1 and 
December 1 by calling on the American Bank Note Company to furnish a specified number 
of stamps, under the provisions of the contract giving the right to order an extra quanity not 
exceeding a three months' supply. 

At the time appointed for closing the receipt of the new proposals, on the 26th of Sept- 
ember, two bids were submitted. One was from the Franklin Bank Note Company and the 
other was from the American Bank Note Company, both of New York. The bid of the 
Franklin Bank Note Company amounted, on the basis of the quantities specified in the 
previous advertisement, to $163,904.82 for stamps of the larger size, and to $163,904 82 
for stamps of the smaller size, printed on all steam-power presses, and the bid of the Amer- 
ican Bank Note Company amounted, on the same basis and for the same class of work, to 
$157,641.93 for stamps of the larger size and to $149,215.31 for stamps of the smaller size. 
The bid of the American Bank Note Company was $391.94 less than its bid under the former 
advertisement for the larger stamps and $079.84 more for the smaller stamps. 

Subsequent to the receipt of these proposals another call was made by letter of the 
Postmaster-General, dated October 8, upon Mr. Steel to comply with the requirements of 
his bid submitted in July, and he responded on the 12th of October by declining to proceed 
further in the matter. There appeared to be no alternative but to make a selection from 
the other bids already received, especially in view of the fact that, through the time lost in the 
endeavor to induce Mr. Steel to comply with his proposal, the Department had exhausted 
its resources for obtaining temporary supplies of stamps. The contract was therefore, on 
the 23d of October, awarded to the American Bank Note Company under its bid received on 
the 17th of July (it being the lowest of all the bids, except that of Mr. Steel, received under 
both advertisements) the award being made for ordinary stamps of the smaller size. No 
hesitation was felt in awarding the contract for stamps printed on all steam-power presses, 
the work having been satisfactorily done by that process during the preceding four years. 
As already shown, the successful bid amounted, upon the basis of the number of stamps 
issued during the year ending March 31, 1889, to $148,235.47. This amount was $9,406.46 
more than the cost of corresponding kinds and numbers of stamps under the previous 
contract. It is to be observed, however, that under the terms of the new contract, the 
cost of preparing dies, rolls, and plates for new designs of stamps, or for additional denom- 
inations, is to be borne by the Department, while under the previous contract, the contrac- 
tor was required to make these changes at the discretion of the Department and at his own 
expense; and, moreover, that by the new contract the two-cent stamps, constituting by far 
the greater portion of all the issues, are printed in much more expensive color than 
formerly. 

The contract was duly executed, and it being found impracticable to prepare stamps of 
the new designs prior to December 1, arrangements were made with the American Bank 
Note Company by which stamps of the old style were to be furnished at the old contract 
rates until such time as the new stamps should be ready for issue. The issue of the 
new stamps was begun in time to place them on sale at the leading post-offices on February 
22, last." 

When the contract was signed, on Nov. 7th, 1889, the date at which it 
was to become operative was advanced to Jan. 1st, 1890. 

The specifications furnished to intending bidders on this stamp con- 
tract provided in regard to colors as follows : 

" The colors selected for the several denominations of the two sizes of ordinary stamps 
for which proposals are invited are respectively as follows : 
The ordinary stamps of the larger size (A): 

1 cent, ultramarine blue 6 cent, dark red 

2 cent, metallic red 10 cent, light brown 

3 cent, vermilion 15 cent, orange 

4 cent, milori green 30 cent, black 

5 cent, chocolate 90 cent, carmine 

The colors adopted for this size of stamps are show on the specimens herewith, each 
being surcharged with the word ' Sample.' 

For ordinary stamps of the smaller size (B): 

1 cent, ultramarine blue 6 cent, vermilion 

2 cent, carmine 10 cent, milori green 



' Sample " stamps 

iu the proposed 

colors. 



162 ISSUE OF 1890. 

3 cent, royal purple 15 cent, steel blue 

4 cent, choccrlate 30 cent, black 

5 cent, light brown 90 cent, orange 

The colors adopted for this s ; ze are shown on the specimens herewith, each designated 
as ' Sample A.' 

The inks to be used in printing the stamps must be of the colors shown on the samples 
for the corresponding kinds and denominations, and be fully equal in quality thereto. The 
use of aniline inks will not be allowed " 

These sample stamps were prepared and overprinted by the American 
Bank Note Co., on a special order from the Post Office Department. In 
Additional addition to the varieties enumerated in the specifications, several others are 
known to collectors. They are: the two cents printed in dull lake, car- 
mine-lake and scarlet-vermilion, and surcharged "sample"; the four cents 
green, ten cents brown and ninety cents carmine, overprinted "sample" 
and having the letter "a " added in manuscript, in black ink; and the five 
cents blue (Garfield) surcharged " sample a " in manuscript, in red ink. 

The one, two, three, six, ten, fifteen, thirty and ninety cent stamps were 
placed on sale at one hundred and ten of the larger post-offices on February 
Dates of issue. 22nd, 1890. The four and five cent stamps were not issued until June 2nd 
of that year. The eight cent stamp did not form a part of the series as 
originally prepared and was not issued until about three years later, March 
21st, 1893. Its introduction was due to the reduction of the registration fee 
from ten to eight cents, on January 1st, 1893. 

The official description of the designs and colors is as follows: 

" One cent. Profile bust, after Rubricht, of Benjamin Franklin look- 
ing to the left, on an oval disk, with dark background and narrow white 
Designs and colors, border, immediately above which, set in a panel conforming to the curve of 
the disk, are the words ' united states postage ' in white capitals, and 
below which, in slightly larger and shaded letters, arranged in a waved line 
running nearly the whole width of the stamp, are the words ' one cent '. Just 
above these latter words, on either sides, is a white numeral of denomination 
— the arabic figure ' 1 ' — in a small oval space, surrounded by an ornate scroll, 
the upper portion of which is connected with and serves as a support to the 
panel around the medallion. The whole is placed upon a distinctly lined 
oblong tablet, seven-eighths of an inch high by three-fourths of an inch wide, 
with beveled sides and bottom. The color is ultramarine blue. 

Two cents. Profile bust, after Houdon, of George Washington, look- 
ing to the left, on an oval disk. The surroundings of the medallion are the 
same as in the i-cent stamp, with the necessary change of figures and letters 
representing the denomination. Color, carmine. An improved quality of 
color for the 2-cent stamp was adopted May 12, 1890. 

Three cents. Profile bust, after Powers, of Andrew Jackson, look- 
ing to the left, on an oval disk. The surroundings of the medallion are the 
same as in the i-cent stamp, with the necessary change of figures and letters 
representing the denomination. Color, purple. 

Four cents. Portrait of Abraham Lincoln, after a photograph from 
life, three-quarters face, looking to the right, on an oval disk. The surround- 
ings of the medallion are the same as in the i-cent stamp, with the necessary 



ISSUE OF 189O. 163 

change of figures and letters representing the denomination. Color, velvet 
brown. 

Five cents. Portrait of U. S. Grant, after a photograph from life, 
three-quarters face, looking to the right, on an oval disk. The surroundings 
of the medallion are the same as in the i-cent stamp, with the necessary 
change of figures and letters representing the denomination. Color, light 
brown. 

Six cents. Portrait of James A. Garfield, after a photograph from 
life, three-quarters face, looking to the left, on an oval disk. The surround- 
ings of the medallion are the same as on the i-cent stamp, with the necessary 
change of figures and letters representing the denomination. Color, light 
maroon. 

Eight cents. Portrait of Gen. William T. Sherman, after a photo- 
graph from life, full face. The surroundings of the picture are the same as 
those on the stamps below the 10-cent denomination with the necessary 
change of figures and letters representing the value. Color, lilac. 

Ten cents. Portrait of Daniel Webster, after a daguerreotype from 
life, three-quarters face, looking to the left, on an oval disk, with dark back- 
ground and narrow white border, around the upper half of which, set in a 
panel conforming to its curve, are the words ' united states postage ', in 
small white capitals, the words 'ten cents' in somewhat similar letters being 
placed in a like panel below the medallion. Below this again, in the two 
lower corners of the stamp, are plain Arabic numerals of denomination, ' 10 ', 
set in circular spaces surrounded with ornate scrolls not unlike those in the 
i-cent stamp. The whole is placed upon an oblong tablet, seven-eighths of 
an inch high by three-fourths of an inch wide, with beveled sides and bottom. 
The color is milori green. 

Fifteen cents. Portrait of Henry Clay, after a daguerreotype from 
life, three-quarters face, looking to the left, on an oval disk. The surround- 
ings of the medallion are substantially the same as in the 10-cent stamp, 
with appropriate changes of figures and letters representing the denomination. 
Color, deep blue. 

Thirty cents. Profile bust of Thomas Jefferson, after Ceracchi, 
looking to the left, on an oval disk. The surroundings of the medallion are 
the same as in the 10-cent stamp, with necessary change of the letters and 
figures of denomination, the latter, however, being of block form. Color, 
black. 

Ninety cents. Profile bust of Commodore O. H. Perry, after Wolcott's 
statue, looking to the left, on an oval disk. The surroundings of the medallion 
are substantially the same as in the 30-cent stamp, with the necessary changes 
of the letters and figures of denomination. Color, orange." 

The stamps are of uniform size, 19x22mm. 

The paper, gum and perforation are the same as in previous issues 
made by the American Bank Note Co. 

There are some minor varieties of the two cent stamps which are of 
trifling interest. These are colorless marks, commonly called " caps ", above 



Paper, etc. 



164 ISSUE OF 1890. 

Capped numerals, one or both of the numerals of value. They are caused by damaged transfer 
rolls. By some means, probably over hardening, a bit of the roll was chipped 
off. In one instance the break occurred above the right-hand numeral, in 
another above the left, and in the third above both numerals. These three 
transfers and others which were not damaged were used in conjunction and 
the resulting combinations are interesting to specialists. There is in the collec- 
tion of Mr. H. E. Deats a strip of ten stamps, from the upper right quarter of 
plate VV246, of which the first three stamps (counting from the left) have 
caps on the left-hand numeral, and the other stamps of the row have caps 
on both numerals. In the same collection are similar strips from plates 
TT235, VV247 and VV248, all the stamps of which have caps on the numeral 
at the left, and a strip from plate VV245 w i tn ca P s on both numerals. Mr. 
Deats' strips from plates SS232, TT236, 238 and 239 do not show any caps. 
Nos. UU240, 241, 242, 243 and 244 are on plates of the one cent stamp. The 
other adjacent numbers I have not seen. It is possible that some of them 
are of the capped varieties. 

In view of the rigid and almost microscopical examination to which 
stamp plates are understood to be subjected it is surprising that these defec- 
tive plates were not discovered, or, if discovered, were allowed to be used. 

The following shades and varieties are found in this issue : 

Keference List. Soft Porous White Wove Paper. 

Perforated 12. 

Feb. 22nd, 1890. 1 cent pale ultramarine, ultramarine, dark ultramarine, 

gray-blue, dull blue 

2 cents lake, violet-lake, lilac-rose, carmine-lake, pale car- 

mine, carmine, deep carmine, carmine-rose, bright 
aniline rose, deep aniline rose, rose, crimson 

3 cents bright purple, deep purple 
June 2nd, 1890. 4 cents dark yellow-brown, black-brown 

5 cents orange-brown, deep orange-brown, bistre-brown, 
dark brown 
Feb. 22nd, 1890. 6 cents claret, claret-brown, rose-brown 
March 21st, 1893. 8 cents gray-lilac, gray-violet 
Feb. 22nd, 1890. 10 cents deep blue-green, dark gray-green ■ 
15 cents indigo, deep indigo 
30 cents gray-black, full black 
90 cents yellow-orange, orange, red-orange 
Varieties: 
2 cents carmine. Cap on right numeral 
2 cents carmine-lake, carmine, carmine-rose, rose. Cap 

on left numeral 
2 cents carmine-lake, carmine-rose. Caps on both num- 
erals 
8 cents magenta. Error. Color of the eight cents of 

the Columbian issue 
1 cent deep ultramarine, Imperforate 



ISSUE OF 1890. 



165 



2 cents carmine-rose, carmine Imperforate 

3 cents purple 

4 cents dark yellow-brown 

5 cents orange-brown 

6 cents claret 

8 cents gray-lilac 
10 cents deep blue-green 
15 cents indigo 

30 cents black " 

90 cents orange 

Bisected stamps of this and subsequent issues are not at all uncommon. 
By the present rules of the Post Office Department such varieties are not 
receivable for postage and, even should one be accepted at the office where a 
letter is mailed, the postmaster at the office of delivery is instructed to treat 
the letter as unpaid. On occasions, the exhaustion of the lower values in a 
post office has appeared to warrant the use of bisected stamps and such 
varieties have even been endorsed by the postmaster, despite the rule of the 
department. But, on the other hand, many such oddities have been passed 
through the post by favor or carelessness and collectors will probably do 
well to entirely eschew such varieties in the later issues. 

While this issue was being prepared, proofs were made, from plates of 
the two, four and five cents, in a variety of shades which closely approach 
those of the issued stamps. There were five shades of the two cents, eleven 
of the four cents and thirteen of the five cents. These proofs are on the 
regular paper gummed and finished except that they are not perforated. 
There would be no occasion for mentioning them, were it not that they are 
occasionally offered for sale as imperforate varieties of the issued stamps and 
collectors should be informed of their true character. 

In this issue many plates of the one and two cent values contained four 
hundred stamps each. All the other plates contained two hundred stamps 
each. The impressions were, as usual, cut into sheets of one hundred stamps. 
The imprints and plate numbers were in the same style and occupied the same 
positions as on previous plates of the same contractors. In addition some, if 
not all, of the plates had the inscription "American bank note company " 
at the outer side of each pane of one hundred stamps. 

In the following list the figures enclosed in parenthesis indicate the 
number of the stamps on each plate. 

The numbers of the plates were as follows: 

1 cent 



(40c) u 


11, 


12, 


13, 


14, 


15- 


(400) G. 


36, 


37, 


38, 


39, 


40. 


(400) Q. 


89, 


9°, 


9 r , 


92, 


93- 


(400) BB. 


'45, 


146, 


147, 


148, 


149. 


(400) FF. 


165, 


166, 


167, 


168, 


169. 


(400) UU. 


240, 


241, 


242, 


243, 


244. 


(400) Ci. 


280, 


28r, 


282, 


283. 


284. 


(400) Dr. 


285, 


286, 


287, 


288, 


289. 


(400) Fi. 


2 95, 


296, 


297, 


298, 


299. 



Bisected stamps. 



Proofs. 



Plates. 



Plate numbers. 



i66 





ISSUE 


OF 1890. 








2 cents 


(400] 


A. 


I, 2 


3, 


4, 


5- 




(400) 


B. 


6, 7, 


8, 


9, 


10, 




(400) 


D. 


16, 17, 


18, 


19, 


20. 




(400) 


F. 


3*. 32, 


33, 


34, 


35- 




(400) 


H. 


41, 42, 


43, 


44, 


45- 




(200) 


K. 


56, 57, 


58, 


59, 


60. 




(200) 


L. 


61, 62, 


63, 


64. 


65- 




(200] 


M. 


66, 67, 


68, 


69, 


70, 




(200) 


N. 


74, 75, 


76, 


77, 


78. 




(200) 


0. 


79, 8 °, 


81, 


82, 


83- 




(400) 


P. 


84, 85, 


86, 


87, 


88. 




(400) 


R. 


94, 95, 


96, 


97, 


98. 




(200) 


S. 


100, ior, 


102, 


'°3, 


104. 




(200) 


T. 


105, 106, 


107, 


108, 


109. 




(200) 


U. 


IIO, III, 


1 12, 


i'3, 


114. 




(200) 


V. 


115, 116, 


117, 


118, 


119. 




(400) 


w. 


120, 121, 


122, 


123, 


124. 




(200) 


X. 


125, 126, 


127, 


128, 


129. 




(400) 


Y. 


13°, '3 1 , 


132, 


*33, 


134- 




(400) 


Z. 


135. J 36, 


!37, 


138, 


'39- 




(200) 


AA. 


140, i4r, 


142, 


i43, 


144. 




(400) 


CC. 


i5°- '51, 


152, 


'53, 


1 54- 




(400) 


DD. 


155, 156, 


'57- 


158, 


'59- 




(400) 


EE. 


160, i6r, 


162, 


163, 


164. 




(400) 


GG. 


170, 171, 


172, 


'73, 


' 74- 




(400) 


HH. 


i75, '76, 


177, 


.78, 


179. 




(200) 


II. 


180, 181, 


182, 


183, 


184. 




(200) 


JJ- 


185, 186, 


187, 


188, 


189. 




(200) 


KK. 


190, 191, 


192, 


'93, 


194. 




(200) 


LL. 


195, '96, 


'97, 


'98, 


199. 




(400) 


NN. 


205, 206, 


207, 


208, 


209. 




(200) 


00. 


210, 211, 


212, 


213, 


214. 




(200) 


PP. 


215, 216, 


217, 


218, 


219. 




(400) 


QQ. 


220, 221, 


222, 


223, 


224. 




(200) 


RR. 


225, 226, 


227, 


228, 


229. 




(400) 


SS. 


23°. 231, 


232, 


2 33, 


234- 




(400) 


TT. 


235, 236, 


237, 


238, 


2 39- 




(200) 


VV. 


245, 246, 


247, 


248, 


249. 




(200) 


WW. 


250, 251, 


252, 


2 53» 


254- 




(200) 


XX. 


255, 256, 


257, 


258, 


259. 




(200) 


YY 


260, 261, 


262, 


263, 


264. 




(400) 


Ai. 


270, 271, 


272, 


273, 


274. 




(400) 


Bi. 


275, 276, 


277, 


278, 


279. 




(400) 


Ei. 


290, 291, 


292, 


293, 


294. 




(400) 


Gi. 


3°°> 3 OI > 


3° 2 , 


303, 


3°4- 




(400) 


Hi. 


3°5> 3 o6 > 


3°7, 


3°8, 


3°9- 




(400) 


Ii. 


3 IO > 3", 


3 I2 > 


3'3> 


314- 



7' 



99. 



ISSUE OF 1890. 



167 





(400) Jr. 


315. 


3'6, 


S 1 ?.. 


3i8, 


3'9- 




( ) Ki. 


3 2 °> 


3 2r > 


3 22 > 


3 2 3> 


3 2 4- 




( ) Li. 


3 2 5, 


3 20 , 


3 2 7, 


328, 


3 2 9- 




( ) Mi. 


33o, 


33*> 


33 2 , 


333, 


334- 




( ) Nr. 


335. 


33 6 > 


337. 


338, 


339- 




( ) Oi. 


34o, 


34i. 


34?, 


343, 


344- 




( ) Pi- 


345. 


346, 


347, 


348, 


349- 


3 cents 


(200) 


21, 


72. 








4 cents 


(200) J. 


5i. 


5 2 . 


53, 


54, 


55- 




(200) MM. 


2CO, 


201, 


202, 


203, 


204. 


5 cents 


(200) I. 


46, 


47, 


48, 


49- 


5°- 


6 cents 


(200) 


2 3- 










8 cents 


(200) ZZ. 


265, 


266, 


267, 


268, 


269. 


1 cents 


(200) E. 


26, 


27, 


28, 


29, 


30. 


15 cents 


(200) 


22. 










30 cents 


(200) 


24. 










90 cents 


(200) 


25 











Plates 71 and 99 were added to the groups lettered B and M to replace 
damaged plates. 

Stamps from the following plates are known in imperforate condition : 

18, F. 34. 

21. 

46. 

2 3- 
22. 
24. 

25- 

The annual reports of the Postmaster General and of the Bureau of 
Engraving and Printing supply the following statistics of stamps issued to 
deputy postmasters : 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1891 : 

Quarter Ending : 

Sept. 30, 1890. Dec, 31, 1890. Meh. 31, 1891. June 30, 1891. Total. 

1 cent 121,144,100 146,001,900 160,068,400 151,494,100 578,708,500 

2 cents 394,563,400 435,499,000 464,456,200 425,781,700 1,720,300,300 



2 cents 


D. 


3 cents 




5 cents 


I. 


6 cents 




15 cents 




30 cents 




90 cents 





3 cents 

4 cents 

5 cents 

6 cents 
10 cents 
15 cents 
30 cents 
90 cents 



2,053,700 

3.471,35° 
9,227,460 

53 I ,55° 
4,915,680 

362,560 
91,790 
13,43° 



2 ,59 6 ,3°° 
5,248,100 

11,054,240 

720,050 

5,783,260 

475,000 

186,330 

11,230 



3,334,4oo 

4,878,250 

12,197,780 

39'> 6 5° 

6,939,180 

580,960 

160,530 

7,79° 



2,900,700 

3,764,100 

10,433.200 

348,55° 

5,H7,65o 

267,080 

88,410 

12,280 



10,885,100 

17,361,800 

42,912,680 

1,991,800 

23,°85,77° 

1,685,600 

527,060 

44,73° 



Deliveries to 
postmasters. 



Whole number of stamps 2,397,503,340. Value $46,239,050.00. 



i68 



ISSUE OK 1890. 



Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1892 : 
Quarter Ending : 

Sept. 30, 1891. Dec. 31, 1891. Mch. 31, 1892. June 30, 1892 Total. 

1 cent 123,667,200 172,387,600 170,077,700 159,108,400 625,240,900 

2 cents 402,173,600 474,486,800 489,161,800 447,493,500 1,813,315,700 

3 cents 2,085,800 3,619,000 4,228,200 2,749,600 12,682,600 

5,164,200 

12,515,540 
626,650 



4 cents 

5 cents 

6 cents 
10 cents 
15 cents 
30 cents 
90 cents 



3,810,000 
9,329,180 

57°>75° 

4,808,690 

404,720 

129,290 

12,990 



5,281,900 

12,404,380 

780,900 

6,448,900 

543> 8 40 

i35.4io 

8,000 



6,770,290 

443.420 

129,910 

7,480 



4,559> IO ° 
10,705,520 

295, 6 5 

5,758,88o 

258,360 

116,670 

10,390 



18,815,200 
44,954,62o 

2 > 273,95° 
23,786,760 

1,650,340 

5Il,28o 

38,860 



Whole number of stamps 2,543,270,210. Value $48,850,562.00. 



6 cents 
8 cents 
10 cents 
15 cents 
30 cents 
90 cents 



Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1893 : 
Quarter Ending : 

Mch. 31, 1893. June 30, 1893. Total. 

51,128,400 90,341,300 435,942,350 

72,173,600 217,612,200 1,199,756,600 

3,834,000 1,1 17, ico 1,671,300 8,979,950 

5,639,875 1,031,3°° 2,559,300 13,501,075 

11,838,540 1,197,460 4,997,260 28,520,590 

1,074,550 164,450 365,800 2,237,750 

I39, 2 50 ^403,250 1,542,500 

6,151,400 735,350 1,697,130 13,824,880 

679,600 46,640 113,720 1,150,430 

119,180 12,910 34,870 290,610 

23,380 170 1,990 41,360 



Sept. 30, 1892. Dec. 31, 1892. 

1 cent 133,659,850 160,812,800 

2 cents 439,410,000 470,560,800 

3 cents 2,357,550 

4 cents 4,270,600 

5 cents 10,487,330 



632,950 



5,241,000 

310,470 

123,650 

15,820 



Whole number of stamps 1,705,788,095. Value $32,527,151.00. 



Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1 
Quarter Ending : 
Sept. 30, 1893. Dec 31, 1893. Mch. 31, 1894. June 30, 1894 

1 cent 78,059,300 71,907,600 116,841,900 138,586,300 

2 cents 275,632,700 200,240,200 275,930,000 403,934,600 
1,221,900 2,096,500 4,719,900 3,774,200 

1,871,450 

3,434,38o 

303,400 

781,200 

1,719,670 

79,38o 

'3,830 

660 



3 cents 

4 cents 

5 cents 

6 cents 
8 cents 

10 cents 

15 cents 

30 cents 

90 cents 



2,161,900 

3,948,140 

402,400 

1,013,750 

1,722,600 

1 18,740 

81,190 

53o 



5,598,000 

9,857,56o 

959,800 

1,609,000 

3,137,300 

231,200 

49,45° 

5,050 



4,574,65o 
9,582,440 
1,043,800 
1,727,450 
3>°5o> T 5° 
368,440 
148,610 



9,030 



Whole number of stamps 1,632,550,250. Value $31,189, 



894: 

Total. 

405,395, lco 

1, '55,737,5°° 

1 1,812,500 

14,206,000 

26,822,520 

2,709,400 

5,'3 r ,400 

9,629,720 

797,760 

293,080 

15,270 

821.00. 



ISSUE OF 1890. 



16c 



Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1895 
Quarter Ending : 





Sept. 30, 1894, 


Dec, 31, 1894. 


Mch. 31, 1895. June 


30, 1895. 


Total. 


1 cent 


131,620,000 


29,186,600 




160,806,600 


2 cents 


432,205,100 


23.404,3 00 







455, 6 °9,4oo 


3 cents 


2,517,100 





. . 




2,517,100 


4 cents 


2,875,400 









2,875,400 


5 cents 


9,026,120 








9,026,120 


6 cents 


40,500 









40,500 


8 cents 


1,228,550 


2,138,45° 


2,046,900 





5,413,9°° 


10 cents 


2,4'9>°3° 









2,4'9,o3° 


15 cents 


2 1 7,020 


47,5 6 ° 







264,580 


30 cents 


75.55° 


37,438 







1 12,988 


90 cents 


9,120 


7°,38i 




79,5oi 


Whole number < 


Df stamps 639, 


[65,119. Value $[2,184,668 


■30. 



Issue of 1893. 

Columbian Series. 

The reasons for the issue and other particulars concerning it are given 
in the report of the Third Assistant Postmaster General, dated November 
20th, 1892, as follows : 

" During the past summerthe determination was reached by the Department to issue, 
during the progress of the Columbian Exposition at Chicago, a special series of adhesive 
Historical. postage stamps of such a character as would help to signalize the four hundredth anniversary 

of the discovery of America by Columbus. This course was in accordance with the practice 
of other great postal administrations on occasions of national rejoicing, and it was consistent 
with the idea of a display at the Exposition of such articles as would illustrate the history, 
progress and administrative functions of the Post-Office Department, which Congress, by 
statute, has directed to be made part of a general governmental exhibit. The same idea had 
been carried out in a limited way during the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, in 1876, 
by the issue, concurrently with that event, of a specal design of stamped envelopes appro- 
priate to the celebration. The measure was not only calculated to prove a popular one, but 
to be the means, through the sale of the stamps to the collectors, and by specially stimulating 
the use of the stamps by the public, of adding largely to the revenue of the Department. 

The collecting of stamps is deserving of encouragement, for it tends to the cultivation 
of artistic tastes and the study of history and geography, especially on the part of the young, 
by the examination and comparison of stamps of different nations of the world, and to a 
more accurate knowledge of their postal systems. The new stamps will be purchased in 
laige quantities simply for the use of collections, without ever being presented in payment 
of postage; and the stamps sold in this way will of course, prove a clear gain to the Depart- 
ment. 

The benefits to accrue to the Exposition from the issue of such a series of stamps, by 
constantly drawing to it public attention, both at home and abroad, are too patent to need 
elaboration. 

The necessary arrangements for manufacturing the new stamps were made with the 
present contractors for furnishing all the other stamps in use. The work was begun late in 
September last, and it has progressed with such rapidity that a supply of upwards of 100,- 
000,000 of the leading denominations has already been accumulated. It is expected that the 
full series will be completed in time to place the stamps on sale on Monday the 2d of January, 
the period fixed for their issue being the whole of the calendar year 1893, and the estimated 
quantity to be required during that time being 3,000,000,000. The new stamps are, how- 
ever, not intended to displace the current series of stamps, but will be in addition thereto; 
so that anyone needing postage stamps will be able to procure either or both kinds, as he 
may prefer. 

The principal feature of the Columbian stamps, with twoexceptions, is the delineation 
of some scene in the life of Columbus associated with the discovery of America, one of the 
exceptions being a stamp bearing a profile portrait of Columbus, similar to that on the souvenir 
50 cent coin issued by the Treasury Department, and the other a stamp bearing portraits of 
Queen Isabella and Columbus in three-quarters face There is a general resemblance in 
the two portraits of Columbus, both being taken from the same original pictuie. To pro- 
perly illustrate the subjects selected it was found necessary to adopt a larger size than that in 
present use, the new stamps being of the same height and of nearly double the length of the 
regular stamps, the engraved space measuring seven-eights of an inch by 1 11-32 inches. 

The denominations are the same as those in the present series, except that the 50-cent 
stamp is substituted for the 90-cent, and additions are made of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 dollars, such 
high denominations having been heretofore called for by some of the principal post-offices. 



ISSUE OF 1893. 



171 



The subjects on some of the stamps — i-cent, 2-cent, 5-cent, 6-cent, 50-cent and 2-dollar 
stamps — are copied from the works of American artists." 

The report of the Postmaster General for 1892 covers much the same 
ground and says, among other things: 

" In addition, the 'mania/ as it is called, for collecting postage stamps, as specimens, 
is universal throughout the world. It affects every class and condition of people, and is not 
confined by age or sex. It is shared, perhaps, by millions of people, from the school boy An official view 
and girl to the monarch and the millionaire, and the value of stamps in private collections of stamp collecting. 
which will never be drawn upon to pay postage may safely be placed at many millions of 
dollars. The beauty and unique character of the new Columbian stamps will cause their 
sale in large quantities, simply for use in collections; and not only will they be purchased in 
single or partial sets by collectors, but in view of the limited time in which they will be 
issued, they will be accumulated in great quantities by dealers and others to meet future 
demands. * * * 

The introduction of the new stamps, though not designed primarily for that object, 
will prove to be a revenue measure of the highest importance to the public service. The net 
profit to be derived from their issue, that is the extra amount beyond the ordinary revenue 
that would have resulted from the sale and use only of ordinary stamps, may be fairly 
placed at $2,500,000." 

Appendix L. of the report of the Postmaster General for 1892, sup- 
plies some interesting information about the contract for this issue: 

" The following statement, reference to which has been made in the foregoing report 
of the Postmaster-General, is presented to show the particulars of the arrangement entered 
into by the Department for the issue of the new series of postage stamps intended to com- Negotiations with 
memorate the discovery of America by Columbus. the contractors. 

The contract now in force for furnishing the current series of adhesive postage stamps 
is with the American Bank Note Company of New York, and was entered into nearly three 
years ago; and as this contract does not expire until the 31st of December, 1893, and 
specifically calls for ordinary stamps of entirely different sizes and designs from those con- 
templated as propel for the new series, its provisions could not be availed of by the Depart- 
ment to carry out its intentions. 

The Department, moreover, had no right to call for proposals for procuring the pro- 
posed stamps under a new contract, since to have the work done by other parties would 
interfere with the rights of the contractors which obligated the Department to procure from 
them all the stamps that should be needed during the contract term. Besides, as work of 
this character involves much machinery not in general use, it was hardly to be expected that 
other parties would go to the expense of a special equipment in view of the limited quantity 
of stamps to be issued, and of the duration of time in which they were to be furnished. 

The number of new stamps to be required, as stated in the report, was estimated at 
3,000,000,000, and negotiations were entered into with the contractors for supplying the 
stamps under a special arrangement. It was at first thought by the Department that, inas- 
much as the new stamps were to be about double the size of the present stamps, a fair com- 
pensation would be about double the present contract price, or, say 1 5 cents a thousand. 
Upon a full consideration of the subject, however, this price was objected to by the contrac- 
tors as not affording a remuneration proportioned to the increased labor and cost of the work. 
It was contended by them that the making of the new stamps involved a large increase of 
their machinery for printing, gumming, and pressing the stamps, as well as a great enlarge- 
ment of their floor space, power, appliances, and force of operatives; and that, when the 
work was at an end, they would be left in possession of a great deal of special material and 
equipment which, from a business point of view, would be worthless. They urged for ex- 
ample, that it would double the number of machines used in printing the stamps, they be 
ing now printed in sheets 0(400, while the new stamps would contain only 200 impressions 
to the sheet. 

A special point was made that the requirement to double their capacity came during 
the last year of the contract, and that the extra facilities to be provided would be unnecessary 
to meet the demands for the ordinary stamps, in the event they should be successful in the 
competition for the next contract. The result of the deliberations was the submission of a 
proposition to furnish the desired Columbian stamps, 3,000,000,000 in number, at i8j{ 
cents per thousand, upon the condition that the present contract should be extended for a 
period of six months beyond the time fixed for its expiration. The price named was adjudged 
to be somewhat extravagant; and upon carefully considering the subject in all its aspects, 
it was decided to offer 17 cents per thousand tor the stamps with, the desired extension of 
the contract. After much hesitation on the part of the contractors, and as the result of 
several personal conferences with them during the past summer, they accepted this offer. 

The necessary orders were accordingly made to carry the arrangement into effect, the 



172 



ISSUE OF 1893. 



The eight cent 

sill 111(1, 



six months' extension being covered by one clause of the contract giving the right of exten- 
sion direct for three months, and under another clause giving the Department the right to 
call at any time during the contract term for an extra quantity of stamps, not to exceed a 
supply for three months. It may be stated that the price paid, under the regular contract, for 
the special-delivery, and newspaper and periodical stamps, which correspond closely in size 
with the proposed Columbian stamps, is 18 cents per thousand, or 1 cent per thousand more 
than the price agreed upon for the new stamps. 

The course followed by the Department in this matter is the same that has been pur- 
sued in all cases heretofore where it has been found necessary to introduce new kinds or 
sizes of postage stamps or stamped envelopes differing from those covered specifically by 
contracts in force, a course, indeed, which seems to be the only one practicable in such a 
contingency." 

As was noted in the preceding chapter, the fee for registered letters 
was reduced from ten to eight cents, on January 1st, 1893. In conformity 
with this change, eight-cent stamps were added to both the regular and the 
Columbian series. 

A circular of the Post Office Department, dated February 28th, 1893, 
says : 

" On the 1st of March, 1893, the Department will begin the issue of the following 
articles of stamped paper: 

1. An 8-cent postage stamp of the Columbian series, intended for use in the pay- 
ment of the reduced fee on registered matter. This stamp is of the same general style as the 
other denominations of Columbian stamps, and bears a reproduction of the picture painted 
by Francisco Jover, the original of which is now in Spain, entitled " Columbus Restored to 
Favor.' The color of the stamp is magenta-red." 

The other sections of the circular refer to the eight-cent stamp of the 
regular issue, the Columbian envelopes and the foreign reply postal card. 

The designs are officially described as follows : 

" The stamps are executed from line engravings on steel, the general 
design of the upper portion of all of them being substantially the same. The 
Designs ami colors, details of this design are, first, a white-faced imprint of the years ' 1492 ' and 
' 1892 ', in the upper left and right hand corners, respectively ; then, in white 
shaded capitals beneath, in a waved line, the words ' united states of 
America ', below which, in a narrow tablet conforming to the curved frame 
of the picture under it, are the words of denomination : for example, 'postage 
two cents ', ' postage two dollars ', etc. These words end on either side 
of the stamp in a space of circular form with ornamental surroundings, within 
which are Arabic numerals of value — standing alone in the case of denomina- 
tions under $1, but accompanied by the dollar mark in denominations of $1 
and upwards, as ' 2 ' (meaning cents), '$2 ', etc. Underneath all this is the 
scene represented inclosed in a plain white frame with arched top, extending 
nearly the entire length of the stamp, and taking up, in every case, probably 
three-fourths of its whole face, the appropriate designation of the picture 
being given in small white capitals at the bottom. The scenes represented 
are these : 

One cent. 'Columbus in Sight of Land', after the painting by 
William H. Powell. This reproduction is enclosed in a circle. On the left 
of it is represented an Indian woman with her child, and on the right an 
Indian chief with headdress of feathers — each figure in a sitting posture. 
Color, Antwerp blue. 

Two cents. ' Landing of Columbus ', after the painting by Vanderlyn, 
in the rotunda of the Capitol at Washington. Color, purple maroon. 



ISSUE OF 1893. 173 

Three cents. 'Flagship of Columbus', the Santa Maria in mid- 
ocean, from a Spanish engraving. Color, medium shade of green. 

Four cents. ' Fleet of Columbus ', the three caravels, Santa Maria, 
Nina and Pinta, from a Spanish engraving. Color, ultramarine blue. 

Five cents. ' Columbus Soliciting Aid of Isabella ', after the painting 
by Brozik, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Color, 
chocolate brown. 

Six cents. 'Columbus Welcomed at Barcelona', scene from one of 
the panels of the bronze doors by Randolph Rogers in the Capitol at Wash- 
ington. On each side of the scene represented is a niche, in one of which is 
a statue of Ferdinand and in the other a statue of Balboa. Color, royal 
purple. 

Eight cents. 'Columbus Restored to Favor', after a painting by 
Jover. Color, magenta red. Issued March t, 1893. 

Ten cents. ' Columbus Presenting Natives ', after the painting by 
Luigi Gregori, at the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana. Color, 
Vandyke brown. 

Fifteen cents. 'Columbus Announcing His Discovery ', after the 
painting by R. Baloca, now in Madrid. Color, dark green. 

Thirty cents. 'Columbus at La Rabida ', after the painting by R. 
Maso. Color, sienna brown. 

Fifty cents. ' Recall of Columbus ', after the painting by A. G. 
Heaton, now in the Capitol at Washington. Color, carbon blue. 

One dollar. 'Isabella Pledging Her Jewels ', after the painting by 
Munoz Degrain, now in Madrid. Color, rose salmon. 

Two dollars. 'Columbus in Chains ', after the painting by Leutze, 
now in Providence, R. I. Color, toned mineral red. 

Three dollars. 'Columbus Describing Third Voyage', after a 
painting by Francisco Jover. Color, light yellow green. 

Four dollars. Portraits in circles, separated by an ornate device, 
of Isabella and Columbus, the portrait of Isabella after the well known paint- 
ing in Madrid and that of Columbus after the Lotto painting. Color, car- 
mine. 

Five dollars. Profile of head of Columbus, after a cast provided by 
the Treasury Department for the souvenir 50-cent silver piece authorized by 
act of Congress. The profile is in a circle, on the right of which is the figure 
of America, represented by an Indian woman with a crown of feathers, and 
on the left a figure of Liberty, both figures being in a sitting posture. Color, 
black." 

The stamps measure 34x22mm. 

The paper, gum and perforation are the same as in other issues by the 
American Bank Note Company. 

Soft Porous White Wove Paper. inference List. 

Perforated 12. 
Jan. 1 st. 1893. 1 cent pale blue, deep blue 



174 



ISSUE OF 1893. 



Varieties. 



Error of color. 



riiitcN. 



Plate nunibern. 



Mch. xst, 1893. 
Jan. 1st, 1893. 



2 cents red-lilac, red-violet, gray-violet 

3 cents green, deep green 

4 cents ultramarine, deep ultramarine 

5 cents chocolate, red-brown, yellow-brown, brown 

6 cents purple, red-purple 
8 cents pale magenta, magenta, lilac-rose 

10 cents deep yellow-brown, black-brown, gray-black, gray 
30 cents orange, pale brown-orange, deep brown-orange 
50 cents slate 
i dollar scarlet, salmon-red 

2 dollars rose-brown, deep rose-brown 

3 dollars pale yellow-green, gray-green, olive-green 

4 dollars pale aniline rose, carmine-rose, carmine-lake 

5 dollars gray-black, full black 

Varieties: 

2 cents red lilac. Imperforate. 

4 cents deep blue. Error. Color of the one cent. 

It has been said that several values of this series exist in imperforate 
condition but, with the exception of the two cents, I have not been able to 
see them nor even to learn of an actual holder of any such varieties. We 
occasionally see the six cents in a dull blue, this is is not an error of color but 
the results from exposure to light. 

In September, 1893, Mr. J. V. Painter obtained from the post office 
at Cleveland, Ohio, a sheet of four cent stamps printed in blue instead of 
ultramarine. So far as I am aware, no other copies of this error have ever 
been found. 

The plates of this issue contained two hundred stamps each, arranged 
in twenty rows of ten stamps. The impressions were divided horizontally 
into sheets of one hundred stamps. On each plate the imprint, plate num- 
ber and serial letter appear twice at both top and bottom and the imprint 
also appears twice at each side. 

The plate numbers are as follows: 

1 cent No. T- 46, 47, 48, 49, 50. 

5 2 , 53, 54, 55- 
66, 67, 68, 69. 

MM. 149, 150, 151, 152, 153. 

00. 159, 160, 161, 162, 163 

vv. 



J. 


46, 


K. 


5i, 


P. 


65, 



2 cents 


No. A. 


1 y^> 
1, 


2, 


3> 


4, 


5- 




C. 


", 


12, 


13, 


14, 


»5- 




E. 


21, 


22, 


23, 


24, 


25- 




F. 


26, 


27, 


2 8, 


29, 


3° 




G. 


3 1 , 


32, 


33, 


34, 


35- 




H. 


36, 


37, 


38, 


39, 


40. 




I. 


4«, 


42, 


43, 


44, 


45- 




0. 


6o, 


61, 


62, 


63, 


64. 



ISSUE OF 1893. 



'75 





Q. 


7°, 


71, 


7 2 , 


73 


74- 




T. 


78, 


79, 


80, 


8r 


82. 




U. 


83, 


84, 


85, 


86 


87. 




V. 


88, 


89, 


90, 


9 1 


92. 




X. 


94, 


95, 


96, 


97 


98. 




EE. 


109, 


110, 


in, 


1 12 


••3- 




FF. 


114, 


"5, 


1 16, 


117 


118. 




GG. 


119, 


120, 


121, 


122 


123. 




HH. 


124, 


125, 


126, 


127 


128. 




JJ- 


134, 


r 35> 


*3 6 > 


137 


138. 




KK 


!39, 


140, 


Mi, 


142, 


143- 




LL. 


144, 


U5, 


146, 


147 


148. 




NN. 


154, 


155, 


156, 


•57 


158. 




PP. 


164, 


165, 


166, 


167 


168. 




QQ- 


169, 


170, 


•7', 


172 


'73- 




RR. 


174, 


•75, 


776, 


177 


178. 




SS. 


179, 


180, 


181, 


182 


183. 




TT. 


184, 


185, 


186, 


187 


188. 




UU. 


189, 


190, 


191, 


192 


•93- 


3 cents 


No. L. 
R. 


56, 

75- 


57- 
76. 








4 cents 


No. D. 


16, 


>7, 


18, 


•9 


20. 


5 cents 


No. B. 


6, 


7, 


8, 


9 


10. 


6 cents 


No. Z. 


104. 










8 cents 


No. II. 


129, 


13°, 


i3i> 


13 2 - 


l Z3- 


10 cents 


No. Y. 


99, 


100, 


IOI, 


102 


103. 


15 cents 


No. M. 


58. 










30 cents 


No. N. 


59- 










50 cents 


No. S. 


77- 










1 dollar 


No. W. 


93- 










2 dollars 


No. AA. 


105. 










3 dollars 


No. BB. 


106. 










4 dollars 


No CC. 


107. 










5 dollars 


No. DD. 


108. 











The four cents in the wrong color was printed from plate D. 17. 

From the annual reports of the Postmaster General we learn that the 
following quantities of Columbian stamps were delivered to deputy post- 
masters: 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1893 : 
Quarter Ending : 
Sept. 30, 1892. Dec. 31, 1892. Mch. 31, 1893 



Deliveries to 
postmasters. 



i cent 

2 cents 

3 cents 

4 cents 

5 cents 



43,296,000 

1 16,290,000 

1,011,400 

1,976,300 

3,289,500 



i3°,94i,55° 

3 6 ',9°4,35° 

4,3 6 °, I 5° 

9,258,600 

9,9«7,75° 



June 30, 1893. 
72,410,800 

2 59> 20 7,7°° 
2,188,600 

3,442,35° 
6,801,160 



Total. 

246,648,350 

737,402,050 

7,5 6< V5° 

14,677,25° 

20,008,410 



176 



ISSUE OF 1893. 



Proof*. 



St 


pt. 


JO, 


1892. Dec. 31, 1892. 


Mch. 31, 1893. 


June 30, 1893. 


Total. 


6 cents 289,700 


1,556,550 


878,650 


2,724,900 


8 cents 










877,950 


3,905, '5° 


4,783,100 


10 cents 








1,318,900 


5,169,710 


2,450,590 


8,939,200 


15 cents 








170,600 


580,630 


323,820 


1,075,050 


30 cents 








85,5 


197,420 


i5 6 ,95° 


439,870 


50 cents 








46,400 


83,748 


22,608 


I52,75 6 


1 dollar 








5,800 


18,161 


9,866 


33,827 


2 dollars 








5,800 


8,488 


3, 2 38 


17,526 


3 dollars 








5,800 


6,425 


2,763 


14,988 


4 dollars 








5,800 


5,222 


2,764 


13,786 


5 dollars 




. 




5,800 


5,228 


2,754 


13,782 



Whole number of stamps 1,044,504,995. Value $21,076,395.00. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1894 : 
Quarter Ending : 
Sept. 30, 1893. Dec. 31, 1893. Mch. 31, 1894. June 30, 1894. Total. 

157,064,700 9,943,250 202,548,250 

571,917,200 3,299,050 727,187,750 



1 cent 


35,540,300 


*57 


064,700 


2 cents 


151,971,500 


57i 


917,200 


3 cents 


1,746,100 


1 


922,600 


4 cents 


1,581,700 


2 


768,650 


5 cents 


4,538,380 


10 


701,260 


6 cents 


504,300 


1 


,101,050 


8 cents 


765,75o 


5 


,101,800 


10 cents 


1,862,690 


5,683,370 


15 cents 


169,800 




302,940 


30 cents 


43,990 




1 16,440 


50 cents 


10,916 




37,o44 


1 dollar 


9,238 




12,455 


2 dollars 


1,258 




5,395 


3 dollars 


538 




3,805 


4 dollars 


608 




4,o75 


5 dollars 


2,613 




2,540 



273,450 


3,942,150 


i55,ooo 


4,505,35o 


1,250 


15,240,890 


378,35o 


1,983,7°° 


6,95° 


5,874,500 


32,740 


7,578,800 


30,210 


502,95° 


18,000 


178,430 


44,084 


92,044 


580 


22,273 


22,421 


29,074 


9,369 


13,712 


8,93r 


13,614 


9,465 


14,618 



Whole number of stamps 969,728,105. Value $19,399,719.00. 

From the foregoing table we may infer that the delivery of Columbian 
stamps by the Post Office Department was stopped on December 31st, 1893, 
when exactly two billion stamps had been issued, and was resumed at some 
date subsequent to March 31st, 1894, presumably to relieve the department of 
a surplus. Many, if not all, of the stamps distributed in the quarter ending 
June 30th, 1894, were delivered to the post office of the city of Washington. 

From the report of the Postmaster General for 1894, we learn that the 
table of distributions in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, includes 16,800 
"proof specimens" (1,050 sets of sixteen denominations), which were supplied 
to the Post Office Department. These 1,050 sets are understood to have 
consisted of 50 sets of die proofs on India paper and 1,000 sets of plate 
proofs on cardboard. 

It will also be noticed that the grand total of this issue is only slightly 



ISSUE OF 1893. 177 

more than two billion stamps instead of three billion, as called for by the 
contract. Concerning this reduction the report of the Postmaster General, 
dated November 25th, 1893, says : 

" In 1889, the usual contract for the manufacture of adhesive postage stamps was made 
with the American Bank Note Company at Ihe price of 7.47 cents per thousand. In 1892 
Postmaster General Wanamaker entered into an arrangement with the same company for an Modification of 
issue of stamps commemorative of the discovery of America by Columbus, known as ' Colum- the contract, 
bian stamps,' for use during the year 189) It was agreed that the issue of these stamps to 
be taken and paid for by the Government should not be less than three thousand millions 
(3,000,000,000) in number ; that the price should be 17 cents per thousand, and further, that 
the existing contract for the ordinary stamps should be extended three months and that an 
additional three months' supply should be taken and paid for by the Government. 

It was supposed that these stamps would be in great demand by the stamp collectors 
of the world, and that the contract would result in a large profit to the government ; indeed, 
a profit in all of $2,500,000 was estimated. 

Experience did not establish the correctness of this estimate. In fact as early as June 
last 1 became satisfied that the extra sales of stamps induced by this issue would not be likely 
to yield enough profit to make good the extra cost of their manufacture. 

As this arrangement was made without advertisement or competition, and was no part 
of the original contract of November 7, 1889, I had serious doubts as to its validity and 
binding force upon the Government, and the question arose : What ought to be done in the 
interest of the Government? 

First, 1 called the attention of the contracting company to this subject. They met 
this with an opinion from eminent counsel that the contract was a valid obligation, that it 
was duly executed and was within the power of the Postmaster General to make emergency 
contracts without advertising or competition. 

Negotiations ensued, with the result that the contracting company waived its claim of 
right and agreed to the proposition of the Department that the issue of these stamps should 
be limited to 2,000,000,000, also waiving claim for profits on the other 1,000,000,000 of 
these stamps. The other parts of the agreement to remain in force. 

The result is a saving, in cost of manufacture of 1,000,000,000 stamps, of the difference 
between the existing contract price for ordinary stamps, 7.47 cents per thousand, and the 
contract price for the Columbian issue, 17 cents per thousand, being 9.53 cents per thousand, 
or $95,300 in all. 

The present indications are that the amount of these stamps as limited by this last 
arrangement will be sufficient to meet all demands during the year. 

The action of the American Bank Note Company in this matter is highly commended, 
since it must result in a considerable loss of profits." 

The report of the Third Assistant Postmaster General for 1893 also 
voices the disappointment of the Department at the comparatively small sales 
of the Columbian stamps to dealers and collectors and estimates the probable purchases by stamp 
sales to them during 1803 at not more than $100,000. It is, of course, not dealers <"> Q co >- 

6 yo . , „ 1 , lectors. 

possible to say how large were the investments of collectors and dealers. It 
has been reported that one speculator invested $125,000 and it is well known 
that another bought to the amount of $30,000 and one firm to the amount of 
$20,000. It is believed that the bulk of these purchases were subsequently 
sold to business houses and used for postal purposes. The extent of smaller 
purchases and the ultimate disposition of the stamps cannot be ascertained. 
But there is little doubt that, as a speculation, the issue was a failure, both 
for the Government and for individuals. 

In June, 1899, such of the Columbian stamps as were still in the city 
post office at Washington were withdrawn and destroyed. The denominations Unsold stamps with- 

. . drawn and destroyed. 

and quantities were : 

6 cents 48,400 4 dollars 3,357 

3 dollars 2,937 5 dollars 5,506 



178 ISSUE OF 1893. 

In March, 1900, the Department learned that a few stamps of this 
issue were still in the post office at Philadelphia and they were at once recalled 
and destroyed. There is no available record of the denominations and 
quantities included in this lot. 



-> 



; -4 



I 







> 



C. H. MEKEEL. 



i So 



ISSUE OF 1894-95. 



Early riiflicultieB. 



Transfer (if stamps 
from Keiv Vork. 



Transfer of dies, 
rolls ami plates. 



Dates Of issue of 
the new series. 



Additions to the 
designs. 



Varieties of the 
triangle. 



Under the agreement thus entered into, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is now 
regularly engaged in manufacturing all the postage stamps needed by the Post-Oflice De- 
partment, and is daily issuing them for the use of postmasters throughout the country, the 
same as was formerly done when the contract witli the American Bank Note Company was 
in force. 

In entering upon the work under this new arrangement, a great many difficulties were 
necessarily encountered. A large number of printing machines had to be fitted up by the 
Bureau, perforating and gumming machines had to be secured, a considerable force of em- 
ployes had to be trained to do the work promptly, large numbers of new plates for printing 
were needed, arrangements for storing and shipping the enormous number of stamps con- 
stantly required had to be made, to say nothing of many details entering into the inter- 
course between the two Departments in the transaction of their respective shares ot this 
business. But I am happy to say that everything has been satisfactorily arranged, and the 
work is now proceeding without serious interruptions. 

Some weeks prior to the istofjuly, 1804, when the arrangement above described 
went into effect, it became necessary to transfer from the custody of the American Bank 
Note Company in New York to that of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in this city 
the entire stock of stamps not required for issue up to the date mentioned, the object being 
to avoid any break in the continuity of supplies to postmasters, and to that end to furnish 
the Bureau with a working stock while its own preparations for manufacture were still in a 
more or less incomplete state. 

Accordingly, under detailed directions given by this office, enough stamps to fill all 
orders up to the 1st of July were segregated from the general stock, and the remainder were 
shipped here by registered mail and placed in the vault of the Buieau. 

The transfer was affected expeditiously, without loss and without expense (the stamps 
being transported as free mail matter), except the cost of cartage from the railroad station 
in this city to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, amounting to not over $so; so that on 
the 30th of June everything at New York was cleared up and the business of making and 
issuing stamps ended, and on the following day the work was going on here, with but little 
change of methods and with no material impediments. 

The number of stamps of all kinds thus transferred amounted to nearly six hundred 
and forty-five million, of the face valueof over $17,000,000. 

All the dies, rolls, and working plates of postage stamps, of present and past series, 
were transferred at the same time, and are now in the custody of the Bureau of Engraving 
and Printing. 

The stock of ordinary stamps of the manufacture of the American Bank Note Company 
thus transferred have been issued by the Buieau 
denominations, up to the following dates, since 
Bureau's own manufacture: 



ot Engraving and Printing, according to 
which issues have been made from the 



1 cent 




Oct 


10, 


1894 


2 cents 




. Oct. 


5. 


1894 


3 cents 




Sept. 


24, 


1894 


4 cents 




Sept. 


1 1, 


1894 


5 cents 




Sept 


28, 


1894 


6 cents 




• July 


18, 


1894 


10 cents 




Sept. 


l l> 


1894 


15 cents 




. Oct. 


15. 


1894 


30 cents 


(discontinued) 


Oct. 


3i. 


1894 


go cents 


(discontinued) . 


. Oct. 


3 r > 


1894 


A large quantity of 8 


cent stamps of the 


manufacture of 


the American Bank Note 


Company is still on hand. 











After the awarding of the contract to the Bureau of Engraving and 
Printing it was decided not to alter the general designs of the stamps then in 
use but to add to them a mark by which they might be distinguished from 
those made by the previous contractors. The mark adopted was a small 
double-lined triangle, placed in each upper corner. Each triangle has the 
top and outer side parallel to the adjacent top and side of the stamp, and the 
inner side slightly curved to correspond to the curve of the medallion. Within 
the inner triangle there is a small colored dot at the middle of each of the 
three sides. 

There are three varieties of the triangle : 

Type I. The horizontal lines of the background are of equal thickness 
within and without the triangle. 



Issue of 1894- 

Though the government had long manufactured its own fiscal stamps 
at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington, the postal issues had 
prior to July ist, [894, always, been supplied by private firms, under contracts 
with the Post Office Department. But, at the date mentioned, a departure 
was made from this long-established method. On this subject I quote from 
the report of the Third Assistant Postmaster General, dated October 31st, 
1894 : 

" I think it proper to give here a detailed account of the matters connected with the 
termination of the old contract with the American Bank Note Company for furnishing post- 
age stamps, and the making of a new arrangement therefor with the Bureau of Engraving 
and Printing of the Treasury Department. 

By advertisement, dated the 10th of October, 1895, published in number of promi- 
nent newspapers for four weeks, the Department invited proposals up to the rstli of Novem- 
ber, 1893, ' from parties carrying on the business of steel-plate engraving and plate print- History of tlu 
ing,' or from those who had ' had experience in conducting that business,' for furnishing contract. 

adhesive postage stamps of the several classes in use during the period of four years, be- 
ginning on the 1st of July, 1804, it having been formally arranged by the late Postmaster- 
General that the existing stamp contract with the American Bank Note Company should, 
by an extention of three months from the date fixed in it for its termination, and by the 
purchase of an extra supply of stamps sufficient for the wants of post-offices for three months 
thereafter, be carried up to June to, 1804, the end of the fiscal year. 

Under the call thus made three proposals weie received, the amount of each, based 
upon the process of printing them in vogue and upon the number of stamps issued during 
the fiscal year 1893, being as follows: 

Hamilton Bank Note Company, of New York $179,2114 40 

American Bank Note Company, of New York 162,401.61 

Charles F. Steel, of Philadelphia 146,4=54.93 

As soon as these bids were made known, the American Bank Note Company, for 
various reasons, strenuously protested against an award of the contract to Mr. Steel, the 
lowest bidder, and he, in a similar way, entered a protest against the giving of the contract to 
the American Bank Note Company. Subsequently these protests were formally presented in 
writing, and oral and written arguments were thereafter made, from time to time, up to the 
2 1st of February, 1894. 

In the meantime, on the 29th of November, 1893, the Chief of the Bureau of Engrav- 
ing and Printing of the Treasury Department, with the approvaJ of the Secretary of the 
Treasury, claiming the right to compete for the work under a clause in the official specifi- 
cations issued to bidders, submitted a formal estimate, amounting, upon the basis above 
stated, to Si ^9,487.74, and thereupon urged— his estimate being lower than any of the bids 
submitted — that the Bureau be awarded the contract. 

For various reasons — the two prominent being the convenience of having the work 
done at Washington, where nearly all the other securities of the Government are printed 
and the saving to be secured in the cost of manufacture — the claim of the Bureau of Engrav- 
ing and Printing was recognized mi the 21st of February, 1804, by Departmental Order No. 
18 of that date, awarding it the work, and by a formal agreement, entered into June 9, 
1894, between the Post-Office and Treasury Departments, prescribing rules for the tran- 
saction of all business relating to the matter. Copies of these papers wil] be found appended 
to this report, marked No. 18, 



ISSUE OF 1894-95. l8l 

Type II. The lines are thinner within the triangle than without. 

Type III. The space between the double lines of the triangle is blank 
and the lines in the inner triangle are thin. 

At first all values had the triangle of type I, afterwards types II and III 
were used on the two cent stamps. A die of the three cents with triangle III 
was also made but it has not yet been put into use. The other values remain 
as at first. Plate 170 of the two cents presents an interesting variety. In the 
upper left quarter, the first three vertical rows at the left side are of type II, 
the balance of the plate is of type III, 

Concurrently with the placing of the new contract it was decided to 
abandon the denominations of thirty and ninety cents, substituting for them 
stamps of fifty cents and one dollar, and to add stamps of two and five dollars New denominations. 
to the series, for which denominations there was some demand at the larger 
post offices. These four new values are officially described as follows : 

" Fifty cents. Head of Thomas Jefferson, same as the head on the Designs and colors. 
old 30-cent stamp. Color, orange. 

One dollar. Head of Commodore O. H. Perry, same as the head on 
the old 90-cent stamp. Color, black. 

Two dollars. Head of James Madison, after the portrait by Gilbert 
Stuart. Color, sapphire blue. 

Five dollars. Head of John Marshall, after the portrait by Inman. 
Color, gray green." 

The stamps are of the same size as those of the issue of 1890, i. e., 
19x22 mm. 

At first a soft, porous, wove paper was used, similar in quality to that 
employed by the American Bank Note Co., though not showing as coarse a Paper. 

"weave." Afterwards other varieties appeared. In 1895 an attempt was 
made to counterfeit the two cent stamp and, as a check upon such frauds, a 
watermark was introduced into the paper. When the watermark was first Watermark. 
used it was so faint that it was often difficult to discover any trace of it and, 
as a preventive of forgeries, it was of little or no value. But, in the course of 
time, it was improved and is now more distinct, though it is still inferior to 
most of the watermarks used in the other countries. A smaller device and 
harder paper would probably give a much better result. 

The watermark consists of the letters "usps" (United States Postal 
Service), in double-lined Roman capitals, 16mm. high. 







On each quarter sheet of one hundred stamps there are ten horizontal 
rows of nine letters each, so arranged as to read in regular order either upward, 
downward, to right or to left, from any starting point ; thus : 



T82 



ISSUE OF 1894-95. 



U 



Laid, double and 
ribbed paper. 



Paper watermarked 
"U S IE" 



Chemical paper. 



Reference List. 



s u 
u s 



u 



u 



s u 



u 



s 


u 


s 


p 


s 


u 


s 


p 


s 


u 


s 


p 


s 


u 


s 


p 


s 


u 


s 


p 


s 


u 


s 


p 


s 


u 


s 


p 


s 


u 


s 


p 


s 


u 


s 


p 


s 


u 


s 


p 


s 


u 


s 


p 


s 


u 


s 


p 


s 


u 


s 


p 


s 


u 



s 



s u s 



s u s 



Many of the stamps of this issue and also those of the corresponding 
series of postage-due stamps appear to have laid lines in the paper, in addition 
to the watermark. The probable cause of this variation was explained on 
page 152. The one and two cent stamps are also known on double paper, 
similar to that used by the Continental Bank Note Co. This paper is water- 
marked and the variety is probably due to some accident or variation in 
manufacture rather than to any intentional change in the paper. A copy of 
the five cents without watermark has been seen on paper ribbed with fine 
horizontal and vertical lines (the latter being slightly more pronounced) and 
having the effect of coarsely woven linen cloth. These lines are sufficiently 
raised to produce distinct vertical ridges in the printing ink on the face and 
to have taken up, on the back, some ink from the sheet which lay below it 
after printing. It has been suggested that in the course of manufacture the 
paper pulp was left standing on the cloth carrier until the impression of the 
fibres was transferred to it. 

The eight cent stamp has been found on paper watermarked with 
a large double-lined capital " R ", apparently a portion of the watermark 
"u s 1 r" (United States Internal Revenue). This would indicate that a 
sheet of the paper designed for revenue stamps had been used for printing 
postage stamps. 

Several values of this series have also been reported on bluish chemical 
paper but, on all copies which I have seen, it was very evident that the 
discoloration was due either to accident or an attempt to deceive. 

The gum varies from white to yellow. The perforation is the regula- 
tion 12. 

The following shades and varieties exist : 

Perforated 12. 

Porous White Wove Paper. 

Without Watermark. 

Oct. 10th, 1894. 1 cent pale ultramarine, ultramarine, deep ultramarine, 

gray-blue, pale dull blue, dull blue, deep dull blue, 
dark blue 

Oct. 5th, 1894. 2 cents (type I) pale pink, pink, aniline rose, rose, deep 

rose , carmine-rose, dull lilac-rose, lilac-rose, salmon- 
red, red, scarlet, brown-red, rose-carmine, carmine 
violet-carmine, carmine-lake, lake, crimson 



ISSUE OF 1894-95. 183 

2 cents (type II) rose-red, rose, aniline rose, rose-ver- 
milion 
2 cents (type III) rose, rose-vermilion 

Sept. 24th, 1894. 3 cents dull purple, purple, deep purple 

Sept. nth, 1894. 4 cents dark yellow-brown, gray-brown, black-brown 

Sept. 28th, 1894. 5 cents yellow-brown, orange-brown, dark orange-brown, 

red-brown 

July 18th, 1894. 6 cents claret, claret-brown 

Mch. 25th, 1895. 8 cents violet-brown, plum 

Sept. 17th, 1894. 10 cents dark green, blue-green, dark blue-green 

Oct. 15th, 1894. 15 cents indigo, dark indigo 

Nov. 1st, 1894. 50 cents yellow-orange, orange, red-orange 

Nov. 15th, 1894. 1 dollar black 

Dec. 10th, 1894. 2 dollars sapphire blue, deep sapphire blue 

Dec. 10th, 1894. 5 dollars deep yellow-green 

Varieties : 

2 cents (type III) bright rose. Imperforate vertically 

2 cents (type I) bright rose. Imperforate horizontally 

5 cents yellow-brown 

6 cents claret-brown 
50 cents orange 

3 cents purple Imperforate 

4 cents dark yellow-brown 

5 cents orange-brown " 
10 cents dark blue-green 

Watermarked U. S. P. S. 

April 29th, 1895. 1 cent pale ultramarine, ultramarine, pale blue, blue, dark 

blue, navy blue, deep dull blue 
May 2nd, 1895. 2 cents (type I) rose, carmine-rose, carmine, pale aniline 

rose 
2 cents (type II) bright aniline rose, rose, rose-carmine 
2 cents (type III) bright aniline rose, rose, rose-carmine, 

carmine, lilac-rose, scarlet, rose-vermilion, pink, 

crimson, carmine-lake 
Oct. 31st, 1895. 3 cents purple, deep purple 

June 5th, 1895. 4 cents dark yellow-brown^ gray-brown, black-brown 

June 11th, 1895. 5 cents orange-brown, dark orange-brown, deep brown 
Aug. 31st, 1895. 6 cents claret, deep claret, claret-brown 
July 22nd, 1895. 8 cents brown-violet, plum 
June 7th, 1895. 10 cents bright blue-green, blue-green 
Sept. 10th, 1895. 15 cents indigo, dark indigo 
Nov. 9th, 1895. 5° cents yellow-orange, orange, red-orange 
Aug. 12th, 1895. 1 dollar black 

Aug. 13th, 1895. 2 dollars sapphire blue, deep sapphire blue 
Aug. 16th, 1895. 5 dollars dark yellow-green, dark green 



184 



ISSUE OF 1894-95. 



Varieties : 

1 cent deep dull blue. Imperforate 

2 cents (type III) carmine-rose 

3 cents purple 

4 cents dark yellow-brown 

5 cents deep orange-brown 

6 cents claiet-brown 
8 cents plum 

10 cents blue-green 

15 cents indigo " 

50 cents red-orange " 

1 dollar black " 

2 dollars sapphire blue 
5 dollars dark yellow-green 

Watermarked U. S. I. R. 
8 cents brown-violet 

All the plates of the one, two and ten cents and a few of the three, four 
and five cents values contain four hundred stamps each. All the other plates 
Plates. contain two hundred stamps each. The impressions are, as usual, divided 

into sheets of one hundred stamps. The lines of division are indicated by 
arrow heads in the margins and on some of the plates by ruled lines. On the 
plates with two hundred stamps the imprint appears at the middle of the top 
and bottom of each half of the plate, on those having four hundred stamps, it 
is placed at the top — or bottom — and outer side of each quarter of the plate. 
The plate number is always placed at the right of the imprint. 

Three varieties of imprint and three styles of numerals have been used 
for this issue. For numbers 1 to 154 inclusive shaded numerals 3^mm. high 
were used. From number 155 to 327 inclusive the numerals were more 
ornate and only 2^mm. high. Above number 327 a third style was introduced 
and still remains in use. In this the numerals are thin and without shading 
and 2% mm. in height. 

The first style of imprint used was a plain rectangle with a thin frame 
line. This was applied to the postage and postage due stamps from plate 1 
to 75 inclusive and also to number 159. The second style of imprint was 
made by cutting the frame line more firmly and clearly and adding at each 
end a rosette and an arrow-head ornament. This imprint has been used on 
all postage and postage due stamps above plate 75 with the exception of 
number 159. In the third type the letters are all capitals, the panel is much 
longer, the ends are octagonal and finished by a three branched ornament. 
This imprint appears only on the Special Delivery and the Newspapers and 
Periodicals stamps. 
Plate numbers. The list of plate numbers, up to March 1st, 1901, is as follows : 

1894. Without Watermark. 
1 cent (400) No. 2, 6, 15, 17, 18, 21, 24, 27, 

2 9> 3h 33, 35> 9 8 , 99. IOI > I02 > 

119, I20, 121, 122. 



Imprints anil 
numbers. 



ISSUE OF 1894-95. 



185 



2 cents (type I) 



2 cents (type II) 

2 cents (type III) 

3 cents 

4 cents 

5 cents 

6 cents 
8 cents 

10 cents 

15 cents 

50 cents 

1 dollar 

2 dollars 
5 dollars 



(400) No. 1, 3, 4, 
11, 12, 13, 

25, 26, 3°, 

88, 89, 96, 

114, 115, 116, 

400) No. 126, 131, 132, 

400) No. 141, 142, 143, 

I5 J > 'S 2 - ] 53> 
No. 44, 46, 47, 
No. 91, 95, 103, 
No. 45, 50, 51, 
No. 92, 94, 104, 
No. 49, 53, 54, 



400 
200 
400 
200 
400 
200 
200 
200 
400 
200 
200 
200 
200 
200 



No. 128, 129, 130, 
No. 28. 

58. 

55. 6z , 6 3, 

5 2 - 

75- 

76. 



No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 



5. 7, 8, 9, 

16, 19, 20, 22, 

32, 78, 79, 80, 

97, no, in, 112, 

117, 124, 125, 144. 

I45> M6, 148, 149. 
i54, i55> *5 6 > 1 57> 
48. 
107. 

59- 
106. 

56. 
134, 161, 162, 163, 



64. 



2 3> 

82, 

"3' 



15°. 
158. 



164. 



85- 
Varieties : 

2 cents Imperforate vertically No. 153. 
horizontally No. 

No. 130 



2 cents 

5 cents 

6 cents 
50 cents 

3 cents 

4 cents 

5 cents 
10 cents 



1 cent 



No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 



28 

75 
47 
5° 
53 
63 



1895. 



2 cents (type I) 



Watermarked U. S. P. 

(400) No. 24, 29, 3 s, 
119, 120, 121, 

177, 178, 179. 
276, 277, 278, 
298, 299, 300, 
3'4, 333. 334, 
347, 348, 35°, 
3 66 , 3 6 7, 3 6 9» 
44 2 , 443, 444, 
455, 493, 494, 
(400) No. 78, 79, 80, 
112, 113, 114, 
144. 



S. 

35, 98, 
122, 165, 
180, 234, 
280, 294, 
3° r , 3°4, 
335, 33 6 , 
35 2 , 355, 
37°, 37i, 
445, 446, 
495, 49 6 - 

82, 88, 
115, II6 , 



99, 
166, 

237, 
2 95, 

308, 

344, 
360, 

439, 

452, 



101, 
167, 
240, 
296, 
3 IO > 
345, 
3 62 , 
440, 

453, 



96, 97, 
117, 124, 



102, 
168, 
2 45, 
297, 
3*3, 
346, 
365, 
44', 
454, 

in, 

125, 



1 86 issue of 1894-95. 

2 cents (type II) (400) No. 126, 131, 132, 133, 169, 170. 

2 cents (type III) (400) No. 141, 142, 743, 145, 146, 148, 149, 150, 

'5 1 , i5 2 > x 53, iS4, 155. I 5 6 > *57» 158, 
160, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 
181, 182, 183, 185, 186, 187, 188, 191, 
198, 199, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 

207, 209, 2IO, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 

2l6, 217, 2l8, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 

224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 237, 

232, 233, 235, 236, 238, 239, 24I, 242, 

243, 244, 274, 275, 279, 28r, 282, 283, 
290, 291, 292, 293, 307, 311, 312, 315, 
3 T 6, 3*7, 3 l8 , 3*9, 3 2 o, 321, 322, 323, 
3 2 4, 3 2 5» 326, 327, 328, 329, 330, 331, 
332, 337, 33 s , 339» 34©, 341, 342, 343, 
349, 354, 356, 358, 361, 363, 364, 368, 
372, 374, 37 6 , 379, 3 8z , 383, 3 8 4, 3 8 5, 
387, 3 88 , 393, 394, 395, 39 6 , 397, 39 8 , 
399, 40c, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 
411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 418, 
419, 420, 42r, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 
427, 428, 429, 430, 431, 432, 433, 434, 
435, 43 6 > 437, 43 s , 464, 465, 466, 467, 
468, 469, 470, 471, 472, 473, 474, 475, 
476, 477, 478, 479, 48o, 481, 482, 483, 
484, 485, 486, 487, 488, 489, 490, 491, 
497, 498, 499, 5°°, 5 OI > 5° 2 , 5°3> 5°5, 
5 o6 > 5°7, 5°8, 5°9, 5 IO > 5", 5 12 , 5*3, 
514, 515, 516, 517, 522, 523, 524, 525, 

55°, 55 1 , 552, 553, 55 6 , 557, 55 8 , 559, 
560, 561, 562, 563, 593, 594, 595, 596, 

745, 746, 747, 748, 753, 754, 755, 75 6 , 
758, 759, 760, 761, 762, 763, 764, 765, 
774, 775, 776, 777, 77 8 , 779, 780, 781, 
782, 783, 784, 785, 786, 787, 788, 789, 
798, 799, 800, 801, 802, 803, 804, 805, 
806, 807, 808, 809, 814, 815, 816, 817, 
838, 839, 840, 841, 842, 843, 844, 845, 
850, 851, 852, 853, 854, 855, 856, 857, 
858, 859, 860, 86r, 866, 867, 869, 870, 
875, 876, 877, 878, 885, 886, 887, 888, 
895, 896, 897, 898, 904, 905, 906, 907, 
910, 911, 912, 913, 914, 915, 916, 917, 
918, 919, 920, 921, 926, 927, 1008, 1009, 
1 010, 101 r, 1024, 1025, 1026, 1027, 1032, 
1033, 1034, 1035, 1038, 1039, 1040, 1041 , 
1046, 1047, 1048, 1049, 1054, 1055, 1056, 



ISSUE OF T 894-95. 



187 







i°57, 






1072, 


2 cents (type 


III) (360) 


No. 988, 


3 cents 


(200) 


No. 91, 


4 cents 


(200) 


No. 92, 
45 6 , 


5 cents 


(200) 


No. 128, 
189, 
35i, 


6 cents 


(200) 


No. 28, 


8 cents 


(200) 


No. 58 


10 cents 


(400) 


No. 55 


15 cents 


(200) 


No. 52, 


50 cents 


(200) 


No. 75, 


1 dollar 


(200) 


No. 76 


2 dollars 


(200) 


No. 84 


5 dollars 


(200) 


No. 85, 



The plates marked with an asterisk 

Varieties 



1066, 1067, 1068, 1069, 1070, 1071, 
1073, io 74> 1075, io 7 6 . io 77, 1080. 
989, 990, 991. 

95. '°3> i°7, 447, 448, 449, 45°- 

94, 104, 106, 194, 195, 196, 197, 

457, 45 8 > 459, 460, 461, 462, 463- 

i 2 9, r 3°> J 34, 161, 162, 163, 164, 

190, 192, 193, 250, 25r, 252, 253, 

353, 357, 359, 3 8 9, 39°, 39*, 39 2 - 
184, 248, 373, 386, 451. 

2 49, 555, 9 28 > 9 2 9, 93°, 93 1 - 
62, 63, 64, 302, 303, 305, 306. 
264. 
* 2 86. 
* 2 87. 
*289. 
* 2 88. 
(*) have not yet been put in use. 



1 cent Imper 


r orate No. 


3'4, 


334, 33 6 


2 cents 


No. 


3'9, 


340. 


3 cents 


No. 


103, 


107. 


4 cents 


No. 


94, 


106. 


5 cents 


No. 


25', 


35i- 


6 cents 


No. 


373- 




8 cents 


No. 


249. 




10 cents 


No. 


3°5- 




15 cents 


No. 


52- 




50 cents 


No. 


75- 




1 dollar 


No. 


76. 




2 dollars 


No. 


84. 




5 dollars 


No. 


85- 





The following plates were prepared but, because of defects, were never 
put to press : 

1 cent No. 14, 309. 

2 cents No. 86, 87, 200, 208, 268, 504, 868, 909. 
5 cents No. 375, 377, 378, 380. 

10 cents No. 6r. 

On the 1 6th of April, 1900, small books of two-cent stamps were placed 
on sale at the post offices. In these books the stamps are arranged in blocks 
of six, separated by paraffined paper (to prevent adhesion), and protected Books of stamps. 
by covers of thin cardboard. On the covers is printed brief information 
concerning the rates of domestic and foreign postage, money orders and 
registration. The purpose of these books is to enable one to carry stamps in 
his pocket without risk of damaging them. The books are of three sizes, 
containing either twelve, twenty-four or forty-eight stamps. They are sold at 
twenty-five, forty-nine and ninety-seven cents, respectively ; an advance, in 



ISSUE OF 1894-95. 



Deliveries to 
postmasters. 



each instance, of one cent over the face value of the stamps. Each block of 
six stamps is composed of two vertical rows of three and has a stub at the top. 
There are perforations between the stamps and above the top pair, but none 
at the sides or bottom of the block. Hence, each stamp has one or more 
blank edges. It was not possible to produce these blocks with plates of the 
ordinary form and, therefore, special plates were made for the purpose. These 
plates contain 360 stamps each. Thus far, only four of them have been made, 
as will be observed on referring to the list of plate numbers. The report of 
the Third Assistant Postmaster General for 1900, states that, between April 
16th and June 30th of that year, there were sent to post offices 2,263,040 
books, of which 945,281 were sold to the public. 

The annual reports of the Postmaster General supply the following 
statistics of stamps issued to deputy postmasters : 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1895 : 
Quarter Ending : 
Sept. 30, 1894. Dec. 31, 1894. Mch. 31, 1895. June 30, 1895. Total. 

1 cent 152,440,100 177,613,700 182,294,850 512,348,650 

2 cents 499,920,600 535,462,800 522,322,8501,557,706,250 



3 cents 


94,800 


4,871,200 


5.737,3°° 


4,°3°.35° 


14,733.65° 


4 cents 


816,150 


5,934,300 


6,12 r,6oo 


4,940,400 


17,812,450 


5 cents 


25,660 


9,487,880 


12,170,760 


10,782,430 


32,466,730 


6 cents 


796,300 


Ij3S i »9S° 


1,179,650 


h H3. 6 5° 


4,441,55° 


8 cents 







7°,45° 


1,897,800 


1,968,250 


10 cents 


460,350 


4,042,680 


5,044,470 


3.6-14,29° 


13> 1 9 1 >79° 


15 cents 




436,480 


450,880 


500,830 


1,388,190 


50 cents 




99.54o 


36,440 


15,880 


151,860 


1 dollar 




11,620 


iQ.75 1 


11,850 


34,221 


2 dollars 




3.355 


4,9 6 7 


1,790 


10,112 


5 dollars 




'.57o 


2,737 


1,679 


5,986 



Whole number of stamps 2,156,259,689. Value $41,167,121.00. 
Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1896 : 
Quarter Ending : 
Sept. 30, 1895. Dec. 31,1895. Mch. 31, 1896. June 30, 1896. Total. 

1 cent 150,408,800 195,385,600 191,537,200 192,496,600 729,828,200 

2 cents 507,871,400 547,252,400 574,552,500 544,997,500 2,174,673,800 

3 cents 3,839,500 5,464,500 5,988,400 4,218,800 19,511,200 

4 cents 4,355, 8 5° 7, 6 43,4°° 6,381,300 4,850,600 23,231,150 

5 cents 9,550,200 11,398,440 12,139,680 10,905,720 43,994.040 



6 cents 


1,067,100 


1,651,850 


J,5i3>45 


1,404,850 


5: 


637,25° 


8 cents 


1,997,400 


2,345, 8 5° 


2,757,75° 


2,084,000 


9 


,185,000 


10 cents 


3,725,360 


4,612,550 


4,898,550 


4,027,560 


17 


,264,020 


15 cents 


331,820 


652,380 


603,740 


4 '0,940 


1 


,998,880 


50 cents 


15,620 


27,820 


28,270 


*7.5 10 




89,220 


1 dollar 


12,470 


'3,852 


9, 6 45 


6,610 




42,577 


2 dollars 


8,345 


5,415 


2,°75 


335 




16,170 


5 dollars 


3.^75 


3,180 


2,465 


1,140 




9,960 



Whole number of stamps 3,025,481,467, Value $57,774,638.00. 



ISSUE OF 1894-95. 189 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1897 : 
Quarter Ending : 

Sept. 30, 1896. Dec. 31, 1896. Mch. 31, 1897. June 30, 1897. Total. 

1 cent 145,068,800 189,247,500 194,221,800 196,113,400 724,651,500 

2 cents 507,131,600 553>7 2 3>4°° 5 82 ,5 o8 >7 ° 575> 66 3>3 00 2,219,027,000 

3 cents 3,883,400 5,486,500 5,956,700 4,459,700 19,786,300 

4 cents 4,473,900 6,139,600 5,909,250 5,232,900 21,755,650 

5 cents 9,612,140 12,200,960 12,250,880 10,310,040 44,374,020 

6 cents 1,125,250 1,512,450 1,516,750 1,429,450 5,583,900 
8 cents r, 771,550 2,587,000 2,473,900 2,472,900 9>3°5>35° 

10 cents 3,712,880 4,621,050 4,665,050 4,120,410 17,119,390 

15 cents 360,280 596,740 491,860 443,940 1,892,820 

50 cents 20,480 37,i8o 14, 170 37,97o 109,800 

1 dollar 2,040 10,600 3,880 6,815 2 3>335 

2 dollars 190 880 1,060 20 2,150 
5 dollars 60 50 1,560 1,000 2,670 

Whole number of stamps 3,063,633,885. Value $58,480,780.00. 

In the Postal Guide for 1898 the number of stamps of the several Quantities of stamps 
denominations which were issued without watermark is reported as follows : without watermark. 

1 cent 404,168,300 

2 cents 1,271,048,700 

3 cents 20,214,300 

4 cents 16,718,150 

5 cents 30,688,840 

6 cents 5,120,800 
8 cents 2,426,100 

10 cents 12,263,180 

15 cents 1,583,920 

50 cents 175,33° 

1 dollar 35,046 

2 dollars 10,027 
5 dollars 6,251 

Whole number of stamps 1,764,458,944. Value $34,411,516.00. 

The table of deliveries during the year ending June 30th, 1895, includes 
750 copies of each value which were sent to the Universal Postal Union. 

In 1897 the current series, as well as the special delivery, postage due 
and newspaper stamps were surcharged " universal — -postal — congress," 
in three lines, and presented to the delegates to the Congress of the Universal stamps with various 
Postal Union, then in session at Washington. One hundred and twenty-five imprints. 

sets were surcharged. In 1898, 300 each of the one and five cents and 200 
of each of the other values were " delivered for the Post Office album." 
Most, if not all, of these stamps were surcharged " Specimen ", in small type, 
in either black or magenta. 

Concerning the counterfeit of the two cent stamp, which was mentioned 
on a preceding page, the annual report of the Fourth Assistant Postmaster Counterfeit two 
General for 1895, furnishes the following information : cen s ai " p * 



I90 ISSUE OF 1894-95. 

" Counterfeiters have plied their vocation for ages and in many forms, but never until 
the last year have they directed their attention to the manufacture of spurious postage stamps. 
A bold scheme to defraud the Government by means of counterfeit stamps was developed 
through our inspectors last spring. This scheme was operated from Chicago and the adjacent 
Canadian territory. The counterfeiters having produced a supply of bogus stamps, established 
their headquarters in Hamilton, Ontario, under the title of ' The Canadian Novelty and 
Supply Company.' Advertisements were then inserted in various newspapers, alleging that 
this company had received large quantities of stamps in payment for their novelties, which 
they desired to dispose of at a great discount, in order to convert the stamps into money. 
The stamps were declared to be in good condition and were offered at the rate of $115 worth 
for $100. Under the direction of an inspector, a party in Chicago ordered $100 worth of 
these stamps, which upon examination were found to be cleverly executed counterfeits. 
Several packages of them, then in a Chicago express office, were seized, and the inspectors at 
once undertook the work of discovering the criminals. Developments proved that this scheme 
had been nipped in its incipiency, and it is believed that less than 100,000 of these counter- 
feit stamps were produced, the greater portion of which have been confiscated. The investi- 
gation resulted in the discovery of the perforating machine and other paraphernalia used by 
the counterfeiters and the arrest of Charles O. Jones, Tinsa McMillan, alias Mrs. Mack, and 
Warren T. Thompson." 

At the time this counterfeit was first reported it was generally under- 
stood that the credit of the discovery was due to a stamp collector who, 
having been sent to examine a package of the stamps which his employers had 
ordered by C. O. D. express, at once detected the fraud and notified the 
authorities. It is also certain that the counterfeits were promptly detected 
by the watchful eyes of philatelists in many parts of the country. The 
postmarks on the envelopes to which they were affixed showed an extensive 
distribution throughout the middle west. 

In official eyes the counterfeits were probably dangerous and many of 
them might have escaped detection in large post offices where the clerks are 
very busy and cancelling machines are largely employed. But their poor 
appearance ought to have attracted the attention of anyone at all observing 
and they certainly would have been at once detected by the average stamp 
collector. 

They were made by some process of photo-lithography and apparently 

were copied from a block of stamps of type I. The general appearance 

Description of the is much blurred, especially around the triangles, while the shading at the 

counterfeit. sides and bottom, indicating the beveled edge of the panel, is almost solid, 

instead of showing fine ruled lines. The original stamps measure 19x22mm. 

while the counterfeits vary from 19 to 19^x22^ to 23mm. The perforating 

was done with a machine of the correct gauge, 12, which perforated only 

one row at a time, thus often producing irregular spacing between the rows. 

The color is a very good reproduction of the rose-carmine shade of the 

genuine stamps and the coarse wove paper is sufficiently like that of the 

originals not to attract attention. It is said that there were three printings of 

the counterfeits. The first was in blocks of twenty-five, five rows of five 

stamps each ; the second was in blocks of fifteen, three rows of five stamps 

each ; and the third in strips of five. Some of the last printing were yet 

imperforate when the malefactors were arrested. 



Issue of 1898. 

Trans-Mississippi Series. 

In the latter part of the year 1897, the daily papers announced the 
intention of the Postmaster General to issue a series of celebration stamps in 
commemoration of the Trans-Mississippi exposition, to be held at Omaha in 
the summer of j 898. This exposition was, doubtless, an event of considerable 
local interest and worth, but scarcely of that degree of national or historical 
importance which we except in events that are honored by commemorative 
issues of stamps. 

Collectors, dealers and philatelic societies protested against this issue, 
as being unnecessary and undignified. But their protests were unheeded and 
the stamps duly made their appearance, to be greeted with little praise and 
much unfavorable criticism. When the issue was first announced it was 
promised that the vignettes would be printed in black and the borders in 
colors. But this idea was subsequently abandoned, on the plea that the 
Bureau of Engraving and Printing had " found it impossible to furnish satis- 
factorily or in the time desired supplies of the several denominations in two 
colors." The promise that the issue would surpass the beautiful Columbian 
issue was also honored in the breach. The stamps are poorly conceived 
and executed, overloaded with ornaments, heavy in color and blurred in 
printing. 

The stamps are officially described as follows : 

" The Trans-Mississippi stamps differ materially in size from the 
ordinary series, the engraved space being about seven-eighths of an inch wide 
by about one and three-eighths long. The designs are also radically unlike Designs and colors. 
those of the ordinary stamps — consisting of a border (substantially the same 
in all the denominations, except that the figures and letters representing 
values are different), and a central scene indicative in some way of the 
development of the great region beyond the Mississippi River. The scenes 
and the borders are all printed from line engravings on steel, executed by the 
Bureau of Engraving and Printing of the Treasury Department. 

The border, which forms in its inner line an irregular oval framework 
to each of the scenes represented, consists of a fluted figure on either side, 
with interior cross-bars, beginning in a single line near the bottom of the 
stamp, and enlarging until it reaches a shield in each of the upper corners, 
wherein is engraved in white the Arabic numeral of denomination— the dollar 



192 ISSUE OF 1898. — TRANS-MISSISSIPPI SERIES. 

mark being also included in the case of the one and two dollar stamps. At 
the top, connecting the two shields, and united to the fluted framework on 
the two sides, is a curved tablet, on which are engraved in small white capitals 
the words ' united states of America '. Above this, on either side, are 
heads of wheat, and between these a small scroll. Immediately below the 
central scene is the title of the picture in diminutive white Gothic letters on a 
curved tablet, and below this on either side, in scrolls, are the words of value, 
'one', 'two', and so on, in white capitals, except in the case of the two 
highest denominations, when '$1.00' and '$2.00' are substituted for letters. 
Above each of these is a projecting ear of corn, and at the bottom of all, on 
a straight black tablet, are the words ' postage one cent ', ' postage two 
cents ', and so on. 

The scenes represented on the stamps, together with the colors of the 
several denominations, are these : 

One cent. 'Marquette on the Mississippi', from a painting by Lamp- 
recht, now in possession of the Marquette College of Milwaukee, Wis., repre- 
senting Father Marquette in a boat on the Upper Mississippi, preaching to 
the Indians. Color, dark green. 

Two cents. ' Farming in the West ', from a photograph, representing 
a western grainfield with a long row of plows at work. Color, copper red. 

Four cents. ' Indian Hunting Buffalo ,' reproduction of an engraving 
in Schoolcraft's History of the Indian Tribes. Color, orange. 

Five cents. ' Fremont on Rocky Mountains ', modified from a wood 
engraving, representing the Pathfinder planting the U. S. flag on the highest 
peak of the Rocky Mountains. Color, dark blue. 

Eight cents. ' Troops Guarding Train ', representing a detachment 
of U. S. soldiers convoying an emigrant train across the prairies ; from a 
drawing by Frederic Remington, permission to use which was kindly given by 
the publisher, R. H. Russell of New York. Color, dark lilac. 

Ten cents. ' Hardships of Emigration ', from a painting kindly loaned 
by the artist A. G. Heaton, representing an emigrant and his family on the 
plains in a 'prairie schooner', one of the horses having fallen from exhaustion. 
Color, slate. 

Fifty cents. 'Western Mining Prospector', from a drawing by 
Frederic Remington (permission to use which has been kindly given by the 
publisher, R. H. Russell of New York), representing a prospector with his 
pack-mules in the mountains, searching for gold. Color, olive. 

One dollar. 'Western Cattle in Storm ', representing a herd of cattle 
preceded by the leader, seeking safety from a gathering storm ; reproduced 
from a large steel engraving after a picture by J. MacWhirter — the engraving 
having been kindly loaned by Mrs. C. B. Johnson. Color, light brown. 

Two dollars. ' Mississippi River Bridge ', from an engraving — a 
representation of the great bridge over the Mississippi, at St. Louis. Color, 
sapphire blue." 

It will be noticed that the colors officially assigned to the highest two 
denominations are not those in which the stamps were actually issued. 



ISSUE OF 1898. TRANS-MISSISSIPPI SERIES. 



*93 



The stamps are of uniform size and measure 34x22mm. 

The paper, gum, perforation and watermark remain the same as in the 
previous issue by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, but the watermark 
is placed sideways. 

Perforated 12. 

Porous White Wove Paper. 

Watermarked U. S. P. S. 



June 17th, 1898. 



1 cent gray-green, yellow-green, dark yellow-green, dark 

green 

2 cents bright rose-red, rose-red, copper-red, brown-red, 

dark brown-red 

4 cents yellow-orange, orange, red-orange 

5 cents deep blue, dark blue 

8 cents lilac-brown, violet-brown 
10 cents gray-violet, slate-violet, lilac-gray 
50 cents sage green, deep sage green 

1 dollar black 

2 dollars orange-brown, deep orange-brown 

Variety : 
8 cents violet-brown. Imperforate horizontally 

The plates of this series each contained one hundred stamps. The 
impressions were divided vertically into sheets of fifty stamps, ten rows of 
five stamps each. The imprint was " bureau, engraving & printing ", in 
white capitals on a small rectangular panel, surrounded by a thin colored line 
and having a trident shaped ornament at each end. The plate number and 
imprint appeared at the top and bottom of each sheet of fifty stamps, above 
or below the third and fourth stamps, counting from the central line of the 
plate. The plate number was always placed at the right of the imprint. 

The plates used for this issue were numbered : 

1 cent No. 590, 591, 592, 598, 600, 6or, 605, 607, 612, 635, 709, 

710, 711, 712. 

2 cents No. 597, 608, 610, 61 r, 616, 619, 621, 622, 623, 624, 625, 

626, 627, 628, 629, 630, 631, 632, 633, 638, 639, 640, 
641, 642, 644, 645, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653, 
654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 659, 660, 66r, 662, 663, 664, 
665, 666, 667, 668, 669, 670, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 
676, 677, 678, 679, 680, 68t, 683, 684, 685, 686, 687, 
688, 689, 690, 691, 692, 693, 694, 695, 696, 697, 698, 
699, 700, 701, 702, 703, 704, 705, 706, 707, 708, 713, 

7M, 7!5> 7i6, 7'7> 7 l8 > 7 r 9> 7 2 °, 7 2I > 7 22 , 7 2 4, 7 2 5> 
726, 727, 728, 729, 732, 733, 734, 735, 737, 738, 739, 
740, 74r, 742, 743, 744, 749, 750, 751, 752. 

4 cents No. 599, 634, 636. 

5 cents No. 602, 614, 618. 
8 cents No. 609, 643. 



Reference List. 



Plates. 



Plate numbers. 



1 94 



ISSUE OF 1898. TRANS-MISSISSIPPI SERIES. 



Plates prepared 
but not used. 



Plates for 
experimental work. 



10 cents No. 604, 617, 620. 

50 cents No. 603. 

1 dollar No. 606. 

2 dollars No. 613. 

The eight cent stamps, imperforate horizontally, are from plate 609. 

Plates 589, 723, 730, 731 and 736 for two cent stamps, plate 637 for 
five cent stamps and plate 757 for eight cent stamps were prepared but, being 
defective, were never put to press. 

The following plates were prepared with a view to printing the stamps 
in two colors but they were never used : 

No. 576 1 cent, border (defective). 

No. 577 1 cent, border. 

No. 578 1 cent, vignette. 

No. 579 1 cent, border. 

No. 580 1 cent, vignette. 

No. 581 4 cents, border. 

No. 582 2 cents, border. 

No. 583 2 cents, vignette. 

No. 584 4 cents, vignette. 

No. 585 8 cents, border. 

No. 586 5 cents, border. 

No. 587 5 cents, vignette. 

No. 588 10 cents, border. 

About a year after the discontinuance of this issue, two plates of the 
four cent denomination were made. These plates were numbered 1036 and 
1037. The former bore only the border of the stamp, the latter, only the 
vignette. These plates were prepared solely for experimental work in con- 
nection with the bicolored series to be issued in commemoration of the Pan- 
American exposition at Buffalo, in 1901. 

The following tabulation of the number of stamps that was issued of 
each denomination, is compiled from the annual reports of the Postmaster 
General : 

Quarter Ending : 

Mch. 31, 1898. June 30, 1898. Sept. 30, 1898. Dec. 31,1898. Total. 

1 cent 17,635,500 28,796,900 24,56r,ooo 70,993,400 

2 cents 26,268,000 76,163,900 57,288,900 159,720,800 

4 cents 1,271,750 1,591,650 2,061,100 4,924,500 

5 cents 1,622,900 2,339,680 3,731,600 7,694,180 

8 cents 897,800 896,100 1,133,300 2,927,200 

10 cents 99 8 > 2 3° ^236,530 2,395,000 4,629,760 

5° cents 5°>4i° 33,79° 446,200 53°>4°o 

1 dollar 20,695 x 5>86o 20,345 56,900 

2 dollars 14,120 ",555 3°>5 2 5 5 6 > 2 °° 

Whole number of stamps 251,553,340. Value $5,617,691.00. 

There are included in this table 900 stamps (100 of each denomination) 
which were delivered to the Third Assistant Postmaster General to be used for 



ISSUE OF 1898. — TRANS-MISSISSIPPI SERIES. I95 

exchanging and similar purposes. These stamps were surcharged " Specimen " " Specimen " 
in very small type. The surcharge is hand-stamped in black or magenta. I stamps, 

have not found any record of the customary deliveries to the Universal Postal 
Union. 

The stamps of this series were not issued after December 31st, 1898 
but they will continue to be available for postage at any future time. 



Issue of 1898. 



In January, 1898, the color of the one cent stamp was changed to green 
and in March of the same year that of the five cents to dark blue. These are 
Changes in colors, the colors assigned to these two values by the Universal Postal Union. The 
change was made in accordance with the agreement of the Post Office Depart- 
ment of the United States to adopt the colors recognized by the Union, on or 
before January 1st, 1899. At subsequent dates the colors of the four, six, ten 
and fifteen cents were changed. This was done to avoid possible confusion, 
which might arise from stamps of different denominations being printed in 
nearly the same colors. 

The size, paper, watermark, gum and perforation remain the same as 
in the series of 1894-95. 

Perforated 12. 



Reference List. 



Porous White Wove Paper. 
Watermarked U. S. P. S. 



Jan. 1 7 th, 1898 
Oct. 7th, 1898. 



Mch. 8th, 1898. 
Dec. 31st, 1898. 
Nov. nth, 1898. 

Nov. 30th, 1898. 



Plate numbers. 



i cent pale yellow-green, yellow-green, dark yellow-green, 
dark gray-green, green, dark green 

4 cents rose-brown, claret-brown, dark claret-brown, lilac- 
brown, red-brown 

5 cents blue, deep blue, dark blue 

6 cents magenta, lake, brownish lake, brown-carmine 
10 cents yellow-brown, dark yellow-brown, orange-brown, 

brown, gray-brown 
15 cents olive-green, deep olive-green 
The number of stamps on the plates and the arrangement of the 
imprints and plate numbers are the same as for the corresponding values of 
the issues of 1894-95. Up to March 1st, 1901, the following plates are reported 
to have been used for the stamps in the new colors : 

(400) No. 439, 440, 441, 442, 446, 452, 493, 494, 495, 496, 
526, 527, 528; 529, 534, 535, 536, 537, 538, 539, 
54o, 54i, 542, 543. 544, 545, 546, 547, 548, 549, 
5 6 4, 565, 5 66 , 5 6 7, 572, 573, 574, 575, 766, 767, 
768, 769, 770, 771, 772, 773, 794, 795, 796, 797, 
810, 811, 812, 8r3, 818, 819, 820, 821, 822, 823,. 
824, 825, 826, 827, 828, 829, 830, 831, 832, 833, 



i cent 



ISSUE OF 1898. 



•97 



4 cents 

5 cents 

6 cents 
10 cents 

is cents 



846, 847, 848, 849, 862, 863, 864, 865, 936, 937, 

93 8 , 939- 94o, 94i, 942, 943. 944, 945. 946, 947, 

95 2 , 953, 954, 955, 95 6 > 957, 95 8 , 959, 960, 961, 

962, 963, 964, 965, 966, 967, 968, 969, 970, 971, 

972, 973, 974, 975, 976, 977, 978, 979, 984, 985, 

986, 987, 992, 993, 994, 995, 1000 1001, 1002, 

1003, 1004, 1005, 1006, 1007, 1012, 1013, 1014 

1015, 1016, 1017, 1018, 1019, 1020, 1021, 1022, 

1023, 1028, 1029, 1030, 1031, 1042, 1043, io44, 

1045, io 5°, I0 5 x , io 5 2 > 10 53> io 5 8 > io 59, 1060, 
1061, 1062, 1063, 1064, 1065. 
(200) No. 460, 461, 462, 463, 530, 531, 532, 533, 790, 791, 

79 2 , 793- 
(200) No. 389, 390, 391, 392, 407, 408, 409, 410, 834, 835, 

836, 837, 948, 949, 950, 951, 980, 981, 982, 983. 
(200) No. 451, 922, 923, 924, 925. 
(400) No. 302, 303, 305, 306, 518, 519, 520, 521, 932, 933, 

934, 935, 996, 997, 99 8 , 999- 
(200) No. 264. 



Plate 442 of the one cent stamp is said to have been used for one 
printing in green, but philatelists have been unable to verify the statement. 

In the summer of 1898, 63,3c 0,000 one cent and 62,000,000 two cent 
stamps were surcharged " 1. R.", to be used as revenue stamps. As these stamps surcharged 
stamps were taken from the reserve stock of the Bureau of Engraving and "1. R." 

Printing and not from the Post Office Department, the accounts of that 
department were not in any way affected. 

In the fiscal years 1899 and 1900 large quantities of stamps were over- 
printed for Cuba, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Philippine Islands. As in the stamps surcharged 
preceding instance, the stamps had not been transferred to the Post Office for Cu,,s , etc - 
Department and, therefore, the statistics of the regular postal issues remain 
unchanged. 

From the annual reports of the Postmaster General we obtain the 
following tables of stamps issued to deputy postmasters : 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1898 : 



Quarter Ending : 

Sept 30, 1897. Dec. 31, 1897. Mch. 31, 1898. June 30, 1898. Total. 

1 cent 157,455,100 232,761,200 240,260,800 196,354,700 826,831,800 

2 cents 537,752,000 626,453,400 687,151,300 556,126,500 2,407,483,200 



Deliveries to 

postmasters. 



3 cents 

4 cents 

5 cents 

6 cents 
8 cents 

10 cents 
15 cents 
50 cents 



3, 8 43,5 00 

4,850,100 

10,185,920 

1,279,200 

2,'9 8 >35° 

3,860,740 

364,640 

12,35° 



6,969,000 

7,061,200 

12,760,360 

2,506,100 

3,3 6 3, x 5° 

5,446,54° 

818,020 

48,040 



7,972,5°° 

7,237,000 

13,890,700 

1,608,650 

3,391,100 

5,508,160 

846,260 

84,840 



4,872,000 

5,634,850 

10,396,880 

1,694,500 

2,479,95° 
3,782,880 

355,24° 
7,720 



23,657,°°° 

24,783,150 

47,233,86o 

7,088,450 

",432,55° 

18,598,320 

2,384,160 

!5 2 ,95° 



ISSUE OF 1898. 




, 1897. Mch. 31, 1898. June 30, 1898. 


Total. 


,'77 7,463 4,135 


2 9,55° 


65 800 165 


1,105 


620 2,055 115 


2,860 



198 

Sept. 30, 1897. Dec. 31, 1897 

1 dollar 6,775 

2 dollars 75 
'5 dollars 70 

Whole number of stamps 3,369,678,955. Value $64,160,613.00. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1899: 
Quarter Ending : 

Sept. 30, 1898. Dec. 31, 1898. Mch. 31, [899. June 30, 1899. Total. 

1 cent 146,382,500 228,217,500 239,954,600 236,461,150 851,015,750 

2 cents 511,569,400 645,124,600 676,813,200 669,610,100 2,503,117,300 

3 cents 4,435,800 8,080,100 8,033,200 6,806,800 27,355,900 

4 cents 3>55 I >75° 7,664,500 7,178,200 6,495,550 24,890,000 

5 cents 8,221,560 11,900,260 12,115,800 11,931,950 44,169,570 

6 cents 1,098,350 1,982,450 2,202,300 1,645,050 6,928,150 
8 cents 1,850,500 3,552,900 3,338,100 2,778,800 11,520,300 

10 cents 3,749,460 5>°37>59° 4>97 2 > IO ° 4,887,050 18,646,200 

15 cents 311,760 900,680 632,220 438,150 2,282,810 

50 cents 16,680 26,730 17,620 16,850 77,88o 

1 dollar 755 2,975 6,195 4,615 M,540 

2 dollars 20 950 155 75 1,200 
5 dollars 15 245 1,015 I ,°°5 2,280 

Whole number of stamps 3,490,021,880. Value $66,208,893.50. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1900: 
Quarter Ending : 
Sept. 30, 1899. Dec. 31, 1899 Mch. 31, 1900. June 30, 1900. Total. 

1 cent 207,987,600 237,771,250 274,354,100 245,519,650 965,632,600 

2 cents 662,801,300 702,439,500 755,100,600 705,386,600 2,825,728,000 



3 cents 


5>73°,5°o 


7,999,700 


10,149,000 


5,745,450 


29,624,650 


4 cents 


6,661,200 


8,374,750 


9,037,700 


7,589,550 


31,663,200 


5 cents 


i3,!3 8 ,4oo 


13,248,050 


ts,^^ 00 


13,860,300 


56,140,050 


6 cents 


2,368,700 


2,742,550 


2,275,400 


1,839,850 


9,226,500 


8 cents 


3,3 6 4,65o 


4,036,950 


4,043,400 


2.848,700 


14,293,700 


10 cents 


4,978,320 


6,088,780 


6,718,700 


5, 32,850 


22,818,650 


15 cents 


788,800 


856,700 


701,020 


565,560 


2,912,080 


50 cents 


8,710 


17,420 


20,780 


26,360 


73,-270 


1 dollar 


8,020 


7,685 


8,505 


1,860 


26,070 


2 dollars 


no 


175 


r,495 


665 


2,445 


5 dollars 


1,220 


75 


1,075 


75 


2,445 



Deliveries to the 

Universal Postal 

Union. 



Whole number of stamps 3,998,544,564. Value $76,436,757.08. 

The table for 1899 includes 750 copies each of the one, four, six, ten 
and fifteen cents and 850 copies of the five cents, which are reported as being 
delivered to the Third Assistant Postmaster General. As it is customary 
to send 750 copies of each new issue to the Universal Postal Union, it is 
probably safe to assume that such was the destination of this lot. 



ISSUE OF 1898. 199 

In the table for 1900 are included 1,300 stamps (100 copies of each 
denomination of the series), which were also delivered to the Third Assistant "Specimen" 
Postmaster General. These were intended for the Government display at the stamps. 

Paris exposition, for exchanging, etc. The majority of the stamps were 
surcharged " Specimen " in small type, in black. 

Finally, the Post Office Department received, as specimens, 240 copies 
of the new stamp books, valued at $101.28. These are also included in the 
table for 1900. 



Issue of 1901, 

Pan-American Series. 

In the annual report of the Third Assistant Postmaster General for 
1900, we find the following announcement : 

PROPOSED ISSUE OF PAN-AMERICAN POSTAGE STAMPS. 

" At the instance of the authorities of the Pan-American Exposition, to be held at 
Buffalo, N. Y., from May i to October 31, 1901, the Postmaster General has authorized the 
official description issue of a special series of postage stamps to commemorate the exposition, which, owing to 
of the stamps. its magnitude and international character, is fairly entitled to this mark of recognition by the 
Post Office Department. The new stamps will be furnished to all postmasters upon their 
requisitions, and the first issue will be made at the time the exposition is inaugurated, May 
1, 1 901, the stamps being withdrawn from sale at the close of the exposition, October 31. 

It has been decided to issue these stamps in six denominations, 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, and 10 
cents, and to make them the most artistic series ever issued by the Department. The Bureau 
of Engraving and Printing has co-operated to this end and has consented to print the issue in 
two colors, an undertaking which involves considerable difficulty, particularly in view of the 
enormous amount of other work required of it. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing took 
control of the manufacture of postage stamps in July, 1894, and has steadily improved the 
character of this work up to date In executing the wishes of the Department as to the 
Pan-American series, it has thus far equaled all expectations. The result is a stamp that will, 
I believe, at once delight the eye and otherwise gratify the Department and the public. The 
designs selected represent the latest and most improved modes of transportation and auxil- 
iaries thereto, as appears from the following desciiptions : 

Denomination. Subject. Color. Legend. 

1 cent Lake steamer Green Fast lake navigation. 

2 cents Railway train Red Fast express. 

4 cents Automobile Red-brown Automobile. 

5 cents Steel-arch bridge Blue Bridge at Niagara Falls. 

8 cents Ship-canal locks Lilac Canal locks at Sault Sainte Marie. 

10 cents Ocean steamship Light brown Fast ocean navigation. 

One Cent. — The lake steamer presents the port bow, the pilot house is well forward, 
and it is propelled by side wheels. 

Two Cents. — The train of four cars is drawn by a locomotive with four drivers ; four 
parallel tracks are shown. 

Four Cents — The automobile is of the closed-coach order, with two men on the box 
and a part of the United States Capitol at Washington as a background. 

Five Cents. — This presents the largest single span steel bridge in the world ; two 
trolley cars are seen upon it. and a full view of Niagara Falls is shown under, beyond, and 
up the river, with the graceful springing arch as a frame. 

Eight Cents. — The great ship-canal locks at Sault Sainte Marie, Mich., are given in a 
view from a higher point, including the immediate surroundings. 

Ten Cents — An ocean steamship of the American line, with two smokestacks and 
masts, presents its starboard bow, lapped by a rising wave. 



ISSUE OF 1901. 20I 

These stamps are of uniform dimensions — 0.76 by 1.06 of an inch— the longer side 
being horizontal. The borders take the colors of the regular series on the same denomi- 
nations at tin's date The words "Commemorative series, 1901 " and "United States of 
America " next below, appear above the vignette; and the legend, in a line next below the 
central opening, with the denomination in a line at the bottom, appears in the same order on 
all stamps of the series All the lettering is in white Roman capitals. The numerals are all 
white-faced Arabic in the Roman type, except the 10 cents, which is the block-letter type of 
figure, condensed to secure space for the two figures. The openings for the central illustra- 
tions are so varied as to prevent a minute description here ; but their borders are well 
separated from the central pictures. All the central illustrations are from photographs, as the 
objects represented appear to-day, and are to be printed in black." 

The Post Office Department began forwarding the stamps to post- 
masters on April 25th, and they were placed on sale throughout the country 
on May 1st. Although the issue will be discontinued on October 31st, the 
stamps will remain valid for postage. 

The engraving is carefully executed but there is nothing especially 
interesting in either the pictures or their borders. The colors are similar to, 
though not the same as, those of the corresponding values of the regular 
series. 

The stamps measure 26^xiQ^mm. The paper is the same as is used 
for the regular issue of postage stamps and has the watermark " u s p s ". 
The perforation has the regular gauge and the gum is yellowish white. 

Perforated 12. Reference List. 

Porous White Wove Paper. 

Watermarked U. S. P. S. 

May 1st, 1901. 1 cent deep blue-green and black 

2 cents carmine and black, rose-carmine and black 

4 cents chocolate and black, dark red-brown and black 

5 cents ultramarine and black 
8 cents brown-violet and black 

10 cents yellow-brown and black, orange-brown and black 

As the stamps are printed in two colors it is necessary to use two plates 
for each value, one for the border and one for the vignette. The plates each 
contain two hundred stamps, arranged in twenty horizontal rows of ten Plates and imprints. 
stamps each. The impressions are divided horizontally into sheets of one 
hundred stamps. The imprint is the same as that used on the plates of the 
regular issue. It appears only on the plates for the borders and is placed 
above the third and eighth stamps of the top row and below the correspond- 
ing stamps of the bottom row. The number of the border plate is placed at 
the right of each imprint. The number of the vignette plate appears only 
once. It is placed below the fifth stamp of the bottom row. There appear 
also, in the borders, registry marks, platemen's initials, figures indicating the 
face value of the stamps, etc. 

As this chapter is written on the day on which the stamps appear, it 
is, of course, impossible to give a list of the plate numbers. 



Carriers' Stamps. 



The subject of the stamps used in payment of the fees for delivering 
and collecting letters presents many difficulties and complications. The 
period at which they were used is now remote and, with a few exceptions, 
records concerning the stamps are entirely lacking. So far as we can learn, 
they were issued under a variety of circumstances and with varying degrees 
of authority, from the highest in the land to that of individuals who possessed 
but the shadow of authority, due to their being employees of the Government. 

The power to issue stamps is vested in Congress alone. For reasons to 
be given later, it seems best to separate the special delivery stamps from the 
Origin of the general classification of carriers' stamps and to give them a chapter by them- 
selves. After this segregation there remain but two stamps which were issued 
as carriers' stamps under an Act of Congress. These are the " Franklin " and 
"eagle" carriers The stamps of the United States City Despatch Post 
were issued by the authority of the Postmaster General. Others, such as the 
" horseman " and " eye " stamps of Baltimore, appear to have been issued by 
postmasters. And still others were created by letter carriers, on their own 
responsibility. Some of the letter carriers were, at the time they issued their 
stamps, in receipt of a fixed salary from the Government, while others were 
paid only the fees received for the delivery and collection of the letters carried 
by them. It will readily be understood that the latter class were anxious to 
increase their receipts as much as possible. Stamps would appear to be a 
likely means to this end. Their use would obviate the trouble of collecting 
the carriers' fee upon the delivery of letters and insure its prepayment on 
drop letters. They could also be used on letters sent from other places, to 
hasten their delivery in the city in which the stamps were current. 

The history of the carriers' stamps is so involved with that of the local 
posts that it is difficult to consider them separately. Indeed, one was often 
Local Posts and the the outcome of the other or was established because of the success or failure 
carrier service. f t ^ e ot h er i n SO me cases the Government was the successor of the local 
post and retained in its service the employees of the latter. It cannot be 
denied that the private posts were usually the more enterprising, the first in 
the field and the first to adopt improvements. In years gone by, the majority 
of the stamps which are now recognized as carriers' stamps and of semi- 
official origin, were believed to be issues of the local posts. Within a few 
years a considerable number have been transferred from the latter to the 



.CARRIERS STAMPS. 203 

former class, through the researches of philatelists. While the local posts 
were competitors of the Government, the carriers were its employees and 
assistants. Their stamps, therefore, had the consent, either actual or implied, 
of those in authority. These stamps are commonly found in company with 
stamps of the regular Government issues and cancelled by official cancella- 
tions. ■ It is largely by means of these cancellations that the status of the 
carriers' stamps has been established. The local stamps, on the contrary, 
bear the cancellations of the local posts, thus indicating their private nature. 
The carriers' stamps undoubtedly performed an auxiliary service of the Post 
Office Department and for this reason, if for no other, their right to a place in 
a collection of United States postage stamps would appear to be established. 

The rates charged for delivering letters varied at different times and 
even in different localities at the same time. At one period, also, there was 
no charge for letters carried to the post office but only for those delivered Rates. 

from it. The report of the Postmaster General for 1855 gives a table showing 
the deliveries by carriers in several cities and the amounts received for the 
service. A foot note to this table says : " The rates charged for carrying 
letters, papers, etc., in the several cities vary ; which accounts for the apparent 
discrepancies in the amounts received." On the subjects of changes in rates 
and competition of the local posts we find many interesting things in the older 
philatelic magazines and in Government publications. The reader will find 
it interesting, at this point, to turn to the historical notes at the beginning of 
this work, and read the quotation from the Sta»tJ> Collectors Magazine on 
pages 6 to 8. 

Before the year 1845, New York was the only city in which carriers' 
stamps were used. The stamps in use there were those of the United States 
City Despatch Post and a few of Greig's City Despatch Post which were 
issued provisionally. Each had a face value of three cents. Whether the 
same rate prevailed in other cities I am unable to say. By Act of Congress) 
approved March 3rd, 1845, the rate for drop letters was fixed at two cents and 
carriers were allowed an additional charge of a like amount for delivery. At 
that date carriers did not receive a fixed salary. Their remuneration was 
derived entirely from the fees for delivering letters. The Act of March 3rd, 
1 85 1, reduced the rate for the delivery of letters to one cent each and, for the 
first time, provided for collecting letters and conveying them to the post office. 
This latter work had previously been performed by the private posts. In this 
change in methods we find an explanation of the large number of one cent 
carriers' stamps which came into use about that date. Though the Govern- 
ment provided a one cent stamp in the issue of 1851, the carriers preferred to 
sell their own stamps, whenever they were permitted to do so. 

In the report of the Postmaster General, dated December 3rd, 1859, 

we find the following remarks concerning the local posts and delivery by 

carriers : 

Penny Post. 

"The system of delivering letters by carriers at the domicil of the citizen was first 
recognized by the Act of 3rd March, 1825, and has within a few years been successfully in- 
troduced into several of our principal cities. Though constant endeavors have been made to Review of the 
improve it, it is still imperfect in its details, and unsatisfactory, alike to the public and to the carrier service 
department, in its operations. The system cannot be regarded as having accomplished the 



204 



carriers' stamps. 



Suggested 
legislation. 



Legislation too 
sweeping. 



Charge for convey- 
ing letters to the 
post ollice. 



Suppression of t lie 

local posts. 



Exposition of the 

laws relating to 

post, roads. 



object of its establishment, so long as it does not command and deliver the local correspon- 
dence of the different cities in which it exists, which, thus far, it lias wholly failed to do. 
This correspondence is now almost entirely in the hands of private expresses, whose rates are 
so low as to make a successful competition with them, on the part of the government, 
impossible Their charge for the delivery of a letter is generally one cent, while this amount 
is necessarily exacted by the department for the carriers, and one cent in addition is collected 
on the local correspondence, as the postage fixed by the Act of 1825, on ' drop letters.' 
Hence the aggregate postage on the city correspondence, under existing laws, which require 
that the system shall be self-sustaining, is at least two cents, which precludes the possibility 
of any successful competition with the private expresses. I therefore recommend the repeal 
of this provision of the Act of 1825, so far as it can be construed as applying to ' drop letters' 
delivered by carriers. This would not result in any perceptible diminution of the postal 
revenues, inasmuch as the correspondence which would be thus secured by the department, 
does not now pass through its offices. It is true that the Postmaster General might, in his 
discretion, arrest the operation of these private expresses by declaring the streets and avenues 
of the cities to which they belong to be post roads ; but until the department is prepared to 
deliver city letters as cheaply and promptly as such companies can possibly do, I should 
regard the exercise of this power as unwise, if not harsh and oppressive." 

In i860, Congress acted on these recommendations, and rather more 
fully than was desired, if we may judge from the report of the Postmaster 
General for that year. In it he says : 

" In the last annual report it was recommended that the provision of the Act of 1825, 
levying a postage of one cent on ' diop letters,' should be repealed, in order that the de- 
partment by a reduction of its rates might be enabled more successfully to compete with 
private expresses in the delivery of the local correspondence of the cities. This repeal was 
made, but Congress went further and declared that thereafter the charge on each letter de- 
livered by a carrier should be not exceeding one cent. The effect of this was to take from 
the department the discretion in regulating the charge which had been conferred upon it by 
the acts of July 2, 1836, and March 3, i8si It has been satisfactorily ascertained that, in the 
smaller and sparsely populated cities and towns, the compensation fixed by the recent act is 
wholly insufficient to support the carrier system. Yet in this class of cities and towns the 
public demand the delivery of their letters by carriers, and are entirely willing to pay for the 
service a rate of compensation which would render it remunerative As the discretion 
previously existing upon the subject has never been abused, and as there is no probability 
that the rate would ever be raised beyond what would be cheerfully submitted to by the 
public, I recommend that the provision of the Act of last session be repealed, and that the 
department shall have authority to collect such postage on all letters delivered by carriers, 
as shall be deemed necessary to compensate them for the service, provided that it shall not 
exceed two cents per letter. 

The Acts of July 2, 1836, and March 3, 185 1, contemplated that the same charge should 
be made for the delivery of letters into the post office as for their delivery at the domicil of 
the citizen. From some unexplained cause, this provision of the law was not executed, and 
the service of delivering letters into the post office for transmission has been gratuitously 
performed. No reason could be urged in support of this usage, since this service, thus 
rendered without any return, has always, to the extent of its performance, cost the depart- 
ment as much as that for which compensation has been exacted. Orders have accordingly 
been given for the enforcement of this view of the law, and the revenue derived from this 
source, added to the other receipts of the carrier system, will give it adequate support in the 
large cities at the low rate of one cent established by the existing law, provided it can 
command the entire local correspondence for delivery. This can be accomplished only by 
placing the postal system on the same footing in the cities that it occupies in the rural dis- 
tricts. That such a necessity would arise was clearly foreseen by Congress, and in the tenth 
section of the Act of March 3, 1851, the Postmaster General was authorized to establish post 
routes within all cities and towns, where the postmasters are appointed by the President of 
the United States. By virtue of this Act 1 have by a formal order declared all the streets, 
lanes, avenues, etc., within the corporate limits of the cities of Boston, New York and 
Philadelphia, to be post roads, and have notified all engaged in the transportation and 
delivery of letters, for compensation, in said cities, that they would thereby expose themselves 
to the penalties imposed by the third section of the Act of March 2, 1827. The private ex- 
presses in the cities named have acquiesced in the legality of this step, with the exception of 
one in Philadelphia, known as ' Blood's Express,' which has continued the regular delivery 
of letters in defiance of the order of the department. 

A bill in equity was filed with a view of restraining the company from this habitual 
and persistent violation of the postal laws, but upon full argument and consideration had on 
the questions involved, the injunction was denied. The ground assumed by the learned 
judges in their decision — a copy of which accompanies this report -is that the statute of 
March 3, 185 1, did not intend to confer upon the government the same monopoly as carriers 



CARRIERS STAMPS. 



205 



of letters, packets, etc , over the post routes thereby authorized to be established, as was 
conferred upon it by the Act of March 2, 1827, in reference to the general post roads of thi 
country. While entertaining the most profound respect for the tribunal pronouncing this 
opinion, it is but proper to say that its reasoning has not impressed me, nor have 1 been able 
to adopt the conclusions at which it has arrived. The streets, alleys, etc., of Philadelphia are 
now, by virtue of the Act of March 5, 1851, ' post routes '; this is not denied. The statute of 
March 2, 1827, declares that ' no person other than the Postmaster General, or his authorized 
agents, shall set up any foot or horse post for the conveyance of letters and packets upon any 
post road, which is or may be established as such by law ; and that every person who shall 
offend, shall incur a penalty,' etc. If the words ' any post road which is or may be estab- 
lished,' do not embrace those declared to be such by law in the city of Philadelphia, it is not 
easy to conceive what terms could be employed sufficiently comprehensive for the purpose. 
The quo animo imputed to Congress in the enactment of the Act of March 3, 1851, is by no 
means made apparent in the course of the argument. The monopoly created by the Act of 
March 2, 1827, would seem to extend alike to every post road then existing or thereafter to 
exist, whether pervading the country or the city, or connecting different post offices with 
each other or with the domicil of the citizen. There is no restriction in the language, and to 
impose one by construction is to impair, if not to defeat, the carrier system which Congress 
has recognized as a necessary integral part of the postal service. It seems that every con- 
sideration which can be urged in support of the monopoly, conceded to exist on the general 
post roads of the country, will equally apply to that claimed for those of the city. As the 
constitutional power for the purpose is not seriously controverted, with a view of relieving 
the department from future litigation upon the question, 1 recommend that, in terms so 
precise and emphatic as not to be mistaken by the courts, Congress shall apply the provisions 
of the Act of March 2, 1827, to all post routes established in the cities under the authority of 
the statute of March 3, 1851. 

No objection, on the score either of policy or principle, can be successfully urged 
against the suppression of the private expresses occupied in the conveyance of letters and 
packets in our cities. The growth of these cities, and the wants of our civilization, render 
the ministrations of the postal service, in the delivery of letters and packets at the residence 
of the citizen, as indispensable as they are in the transportation and delivery of the mails at 
the various post offices in the country districts. But the service can only be maintained as a 
unit by clothing it with the rights and privileges of a complete government monopoly in all 
the fields of its operation. Some of its branches are well known to be heavy burdens upon 
the department ; and they would be insupportably oppressive, were it not for the relief 
afforded by other branches which are remunerative, but which will continue to be so only so 
long as the competition of private enterprise is effectually excluded. 

There are now four daily deliveries of letters and packets by carriers in the city of New 
York, four in Philadelphia, and three in Boston ; and the number will be increased from 
time to time, as the increase of population and correspondence will justify it. The high 
price of labor, however, and the low rates of our postages, forbid the hope that, without some 
change in the existing laws, the system can ever attain the perfection which distinguishes it 
in some of the European capitals. While this is admitted, it should also be stated that its 
operations thus far have been more successful than could have been anticipated, in view of 
the obstacles it has had to encounter." 

This report includes a copy of a letter from Hon. John A. Dix, Post- 
master at New York, from which the following is quoted : 

" The carriers and collectors are paid from the carriers' fund, which is composed of 
the postage on city letters, one cent each, one-quarter of the fees on letters received by the 
mails and delivered by the carriers, Also one cent each, and the fees (one cent each), on 
letters collected from the lamp-post boxes and carried to the post office to be transmitted by 
the mails Three quarters of the fees on letters received by the mails and delivered by the 
carriers are paid to the respective carriers by whom the deliveries are made, and constitute a 
part of their compensation. They have also an equal share each of the carriers' fund, the 
collectors being first paid from it 

I deem it proper to say that the reduction of the fee for delivering letters received 
by the mails from two cents to one, would have rendered it impossible to keep up the carrier 
system with proper efficiency, had not the Postmaster General carried into effect the provisions 
of law authorizing a fee to be charged for letters collected from the street boxe . and carried 
to the post office to be transmitted by the mails. This order, though the fee was limited to 
one cent while the law authorized two, produced some dissatisfaction at the time it was 
issued, but it was so manifestly necessary, and the charge for carrying a letter to the post 
office for the mail was so reasonable that there was a general acquiescence in the propriety 
as soon as the matter was fully understood. In the discussions to which it gave rise, no 
satisfactory reason was shown why the same fee should not be charged for delivering a 
letter received by the mails, and for carrying a letter to the post office to be transmitted by 
mail. It is presumed that Congress, by which the charge for both was authorized, saw no 



Government 

moiioply essential 

to success. 



Letter from the 

postmaster at 

New York. 



2o6 



CARRIERS STAMPS. 



Prepayment of 
carriers' fees. 



Cities which had 
carriers' service. 



Official and semi 
official stamps. 



Arrangement. 



Dates of use. 



propriety in making compensation to the carrier in one case and requiring him to perform the 
service gratuitously in the other." 

By the Act above referred to, that of June 15th, i860, carriers were ; 
for the first time, given a fixed salary. 

Prepayment of carriers' fees, as such, was never made compulsory. 
By the Act of March 3rd, 1863, the rate on drop letters was increased to two 
cents (which may be understood to include the carriers' fee), and prepayment 
compelled. At the same time the delivery tax on letters not of local origin 
was abolished. 

The report of the Postmaster General for 1854, gives statistics of letters, 
circulars, newspapers, etc. delivered by carriers and the amounts received for 
carriage in the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore and New 
Orleans. The report for 1856 adds to the list Harrisburg, Pa., Lowell, Mass., 
Syracuse, N. Y. and Manchester, N. H. In the three succeeding years the 
following additions were made : 1857 : Rochester, N. Y.; 1858 : Troy, N. Y., 
Providence, R. I. and Roxbury, Mass.; 1859 : Washington, St. Louis and San 
Francisco. After 1859 these statistics ceased, probably for the reason that, 
after that year, the carriers were paid a fixed salary and there was no further 
occasion for keeping the accounts from which the statistics were collected. 
It is not clear whether the cities mentioned in the reports of the Postmaster 
General were the- only ones in which deliveries by carriers were made, at the 
several dates given, or if they were merely selected for statistical purposes. 

The carriers' stamps must be divided into two classes, official and semi- 
official. To the first class belong only the Franklin and eagle carriers. The 
second class is more extensive and covers all stamps issued by officials or 
employees of the government for the purpose of securing or indicating pay- 
ment of the carriers' fees. It seems best to describe the semi-official stamps 
first, because many of them were issued prior to the official carriers' stamps 
and because they were of a somewhat experimental nature. 

We know that the first of the semi-official carriers' stamps, and in fact 
the first postage stamp used in the United States, was issued in the city of 
New York in 1842. But records concerning most of the stamps of this class 
are absolutely lacking and, for the majority of them, even the dates of issue 
are not well established. It is not possible, therefore, to arrange them in 
chronological order and it seems most suitable to consider them under an 
alphabetical arrangement of the cities in which they were issued. 

A variety of dates are given for the different carriers' stamps in phila- 
telic magazines, handbooks and catalogues. As some of them are manifestly 
incorrect and nearly all are given without any statement of the authority or 
reason for so fixing the date, I have decided to give only dates which are 
confirmed by records or which have been obtained from cancelled specimens, 
either by personal examination or by reports from reliable philatelists. When 
two dates are given for a stamp they are the earliest and latest known dates 
of use. When no other dates can be obtained, those which are assigned to 
the stamps in the older philatelic publications will be given, but such dates 
will be enclosed in parentheses, as an indication that they lack confirmation. 



The Baltimore Carriers' Stamps, 

Of the history of the carriers' stamps used in Baltimore we know 
very little. The several varieties, known as the "Horseman ", "Post Office 
Despatch" and "Carrier's Dispatch " (or "eye type") have long been classed 
among the carriers'' stamps. But nothing appears to be known of the dates 
at which they were issued or by whom and upon what authority the issues 
were made. 

A few years ago, at my request, Mr. F. G. Sweet of Baltimore, kindly 
tried to secure some information about the various carriers' stamps used there. 
In an interview with one of the old residents, who had been in a position to 
acquire information on the subject, he was told as follows : 

"The fees derived from the collection and distribution of mail by carriers were, in 
Baltimore at least, a perquisite of the postmaster. For the central portion of the city, where 
the mail was naturally the heaviest, the postmaster employed full salaried carriers and Stamps said to liave 
supplied them with regular stamps of his own, such as the ' horseman ', ' eye stamps ', etc. been supplied by 
Grafflin, it seems, was employed by the postmaster on a kind of commission basis, to collect the postmaster. 
and distribute mail in the less populous sections of the city and, for this purpose, had his own 
stamps whose (ranking powers were, of course, recognized by the Baltimore postmaster." 

These statements would be very interesting if we could be positive 
of their correctness. Unfortunately, the gentleman went far astray in his 
assertions concerning the Grafflin post, and this makes us doubtful of the 
accuracy of his other statements. 

As it has been suggested on several occasions that the Grafflin was a 
carriers' stamp, it may be well to say here that it was a local, pure and simple. 
The post was originally a branch of Blood's post of Philadelphia. In 1853 Grafflin' s local 
or '54 Joseph Grafflin bought it from Blood and ran it for a few years under i ,ost - 

his own name. He issued his stamps about the beginning of 1856, but had 
no connection with the post office beyond that, as many local posts did, he 
collected letters and deposited them in the post office, to be forwarded to 
other places. These statements are made upon the authority of the widow 
and brother of Mr. Grafflin. 

From carefully noting the dates on a large number of original covers 
bearing the- stamps of the Baltimore carriers, it becomes evident that the 
three varieties were in use coincidently, probably by carriers in different parts Several designs in 
of the city. The earliest dates are found on the " Post Office Despatch " «">«»"«>»* use. 
stamps, the next earliest on the " Eye " stamps, and the " Horseman " stamps 
occupy the third place. 



208 the baltimore carriers' stamps. 

Post Office Despatch. 



AHAi 



.DESEATCH, 



Typographed in blocks of ten, two vertical rows of five, each stamp 

differing from the others. Probably these blocks were repeated to make up 

Description. a plate, but this is not certain. A reproduction of a reconstructed block of 

the ten types will be found among the illustrations and will make further 

description unnecessary. The stamps measure zoxn^mm. 

Reference List. Imperforate. 

Thin Bluish Wove Paper. 

Jan. i, 1853. — Oct. 11, 1855. 1 cent scarlet, dull vermilion. 10 varieties 
Feb. 16, 1854. i cent blue. 10 varieties 

Bluish Laid Paper. 

1 cent blue. 10 varieties 

White Wove Paper. 

Sept. 18, 1852. 1 cent red. 10 varieties 

Sept. 2, 1854. — April, 1855. 1 cent blue, light blue, bright blue, dark blue, 

dull blue, dull dark blue. 10 varieties 
Jan. 29, 1859. — June, 1861. i cent gray-green, jo varieties 

White Laid Paper. 

Jan. 9, 1858. — Mch. 23, 1858. 1 cent dark blue, deep dull blue. 10 varieties 

Mr. C. H. Coster, says in his monograph on the "Private Posts of the 
United States": "These stamps were in use in 1852. Although we have 
Dates of use. been unable to obtain the proof, we believe that they have a semi-official 
character, like the U. S. P. O. of Philadelphia, and that they were issued by 
the government for use in Baltimore, or by the postmaster of that city for the 
same purpose." 

In the American Jottr>ial of Philately for February, 1889. Mr. J. W. 
Scott gives the dates : "Oct. 4, 1852, 1 cent red on bluish paper ; Nov. 24, 
1852, 1 cent blue on bluish paper." But he says nothing regarding the source 
from which these dates were derived. 

These stamps, like most of the carriers' and locals, have been exten- 
sively counterfeited. The counterfeits, however, may be readily detected by 
Counterfeits. comparison with the illustration of the genuine types. The easiest test is 
found in the relative positions of the " t " of "cent" and the "h" of 
" despatch ". The commonest counterfeit has a small oval " o " in " one ", 
while all the genuine stamps have a large round " o ". There is a counter- 
feit which closely resembles type VI of the originals, but comparison will show 
many small differences. 



THE BALTIMORE CARRIERS' STAMPS. 



209 




These are also known as the " Eye " stamps. Typographed on ordinary 
white paper. There are no varieties, all the stamps being reproductions of 
one original type. Size : 22x1 6^mm. The number of stamps in a sheet is 
not known. 

Imperforate. 

White Wove Paper. 

Jan. 1, 1856. — Feb. 19, 1859. 1 cent blue, dull blue, dark blue 
Oct. 2r, 1858. — May 10, 186 r. 1 cent pale rose, rose, deep rose, rose-red, red, 

brown-red, pale vermilion, vermilion 

The American Journal of Philately for December 20th, 1874, suggests 
that these stamps were issued by the postmaster of Baltimore. There is 
nothing to be learned from references in other philatelic publications. 

There are numerous counterfeits of these stamps, both in the proper 
and in fancy colors. They are usually less blurred in appearance than the 
genuine stamps. The counterfeit most frequently met has the "n"s in "one" 
and "cent" too narrow. Another counterfeit is readily distinguished by 
the narrow " r "s in "carrier's", and a third by having all the letters of 
"carrier's dispatch ", as well as the pigeons in the corners, too large. 



Description. 



Reference List. 



Government City Dispatch (Horseman). 




Typographed in a pane of ten varieties, two vertical rows of five stamps, 
each differing slightly from the others. Two of the varieties are quite promi- 
nent; the second stamp in the pane has the three rays below the letters, " ver " 
of "government" only about half the usual length; on the seventh stamp 
the inscription on the streamer is " one sent ". The pane is repeated several 
times on each sheet. Mr. F. W. Hunter had at one time, an irregular block 
which showed portions of three panes in one row and a part of a pane 
in the row below. Furthermore, one of the three panes was placed tete beche 
to the other two. From this it was thought probable that the plate contained 
one hundred stamps, in ten panes, arranged in two rows of five. But there 
is evidence which contradicts this theory. I have recently seen several of 
these stamps, each of which showed, at one end, an overlapping impression 
of a small portion of another stamp. From these double impressions I con- 
clude that the plate contained only one group of ten stamps, that several 



Description, 

varieties anil 

plate. 



2IO THE BALTIMORE CARRIERS STAMPS. 

impressions were taken on one sheet of paper, and that, through carelessness, 
one impression slightly overlapped another. Size: 23^x171x111-1. 

Reference List. Imperforate. 

White Wove Paper. 

Aug. 19, 1857. — Sept. 20, i860. 1 cent rose, lilac-rose, rose-red, red, vermilion, 

brown-red, deep brown-red. 10 varieties 
Sept. 19, 1857. — Mch. 18, 1 861. 1 cent black, gray-black. 10 varieties 

Principal varieties : 

1 cent rose, red, etc. Short rays 

1 cent " " " " sent" 

1 cent black, gray-black. Short rays 

1 cent " " " sent " 

The American Journal of Philately for 1888, says: " 1851, 1 cent 
rose, r cent red; i860, Sept. 1, 1 cent black." The first date is probably 
Dates of use. copied from the same journal for 1877, and is doubtless as incorrect as is the 
last. In the number dated December 20th, 1874, we read concerning this 
stamp : " This was used in Baltimore in t 86 r , but was, I am inclined to think, 
issued by the U. S. P. O. in that city for carriers use." 

Coster says ( 1 882) : " All efforts to obtain information about this post 
have been unavailing. However, I have learned from private sources that 
the stamps of the Government City Dispatch were issued by the postmaster of 
Baltimore." 

While August 19th, 1857, is the earliest cancellation that I have seen, 
it is my opinion that the red stamps were in use for some time previous to 
that date. The red stamps are usually more clearly printed than those in 
black, and indicate an earlier and unworn state of the plate. 

There are a number of counterfeits of the " Horseman " stamps but 
Counterfeits. none of them are very good and all may be distinguished by the fact that 
they lack the small white ornaments which are found in the upper corners of 
the originals. 



The Boston Carriers' Stamps, 



Records of the Boston carriers' stamps are yet to be discovered ; con- 
sequently, there is little to be said concerning them, beyond what may be 
learned from examination of the stamps and the covers to which they are 
affixed. 



U. S. Penny Post. 




The stamps are engraved in faille douce and printed on yellowish white 
wove paper. Owing to their rarity and the limited number of copies available 
for examination, it has not been possible to form any conclusion as to the 
number of stamps on the plate. As each was separately engraved it is 
probable that the plate was not large. A specimen, formerly in the collection 
of Mr. F. W. Hunter, shows portions of several adjacent stamps, sufficient to 
prove there were at least three rows of three stamps each. Probably the plate 
contained twelve or fifteen stamps, possibly as many as twenty-five. The 
ornaments in the corners appear to have been inserted by means of punches, 
the remainder of the design is hand-engraved. Size : 18x22mm. 

Imperforate. 

Yellowish White Wove Paper. 

1849. 2 cents black 

I have never seen a cancelled copy of this stamp. The American 
Journal of Philately for December, 1874, mentions the stamp but says nothing 

concerning any date of issue or use. Coster says : " Issue of : ?" The 

Philatelic Journal of America for January, 1889, says : " The earliest dates 
of letters bearing the stamps of this post that are now recorded are 1849." 

The counterfeits are too poor to require description. They are roughly 
made by lithography or typography, while the originals are finely engraved. 



Description. 
Plate. 



Reference List. 



Date of use. 



Counterfeits. 



THE BOSTON CARRIERS STAMPS. 



Penny Post. 



; , :-ooc<'OOC'Oc-:!r 
&PENNY$ 

$ POST. o 



Description. 



Reference List. 



Date of issue. 



Counterfeit!;. 



Typographed on pelure paper. Size: 2 i j^xg^mm. All the stamps 
appear to be reproductions of a type-set original and there are no varieties. 
Occasionally some of the rays of the corner ornaments are broken or missing 
but this is probably due to poor printing or defective electrotypes. 

Imperforate. 

Pelure Paper. 

Nov. 8, 1849. — Apl. 26, 1851. (1 cent) dull blue, deep dull blue 

The American Journal of Philately for February, 1889, gives the date 
of issue of this stamp as April 3rd, 1845. This is possibly founded on a 
remark in Coster's book : "We possess, on a letter dated 1845, a hand-stamp 
of this post, which gives us reason to suppose it commenced business about 
that period." Perhaps this hand-stamp was confused with the adhesive 
stamps. 

Counterfeits are numerous but not dangerous. The lines of the 
diamonds which form the frame are continuous, while in the originals they 
are broken, each diamond being a separate piece of type. The stars in the 
corners are two small and usually have five points instead of eight rays. 
There is no period-after " post ". Finally, most of the counterfeits have a 
single-lined outer frame which does not appear on the originals. 



Penny Post Paid. 



fPENNYf 

I POST. % 
<S F.A.IS, S> 



Description. 



Reference List. 



Counterfeits. 



Typographed on ordinary wove paper, varying from grayish to blue- 
gray in color. Size : 2o^xi2^mm. Like the preceding issue, these stamps 
appear to have been reproduced from a type-set original and show no varieties. 

Imperforate. 

Grayish Wove Paper. 

July 20, 1850. — July 26, 1854. (t cent) blue, dull blue 

Bluish Gray Wove Paper. 

(1 cent) deep blue, dull blue 

Counterfeits of this stamp are plentiful but are not difficult to detect. 
The frame is extremely well imitated as is also the word " penny ", though the 
letters of the latter are a little too much spaced, In " post " the letters are 



THE BOSTON CARRIERS STAMPS. 



2T3 



not enough shaded and are too narrow, especially the "o" which, in the 
originals, is nearly round. The greatest difference is in the word "paid". 
In the original stamps this word is in Roman capitals, set close together. In 
the counterfeits the letters are in block type and widely spaced. In some of 
the counterfeits, in the bottom row of the type-set border, the block nearest 
the right corner is turned sideways. This is not known to occur in the 
genuine stamps. The American Journal of Philately for June, 1 872, mentions 
a counterfeit of this stamp which has only twenty-six pieces of type in the 
frame, instead of twenty-eight. 




Hand-stamped in color on colored wove paper. Diameter : 14mm. 

Imperforate. 

Bluish Wove Paper. 

(1853). (1 cent) red 

Outside of catalogues I have been unable to find any reference to this 
stamp. I have, however, seen it in black, used as a cancellation for the stamp 
last described. It is possible, of course, that the hand-stamp was used both 
as a cancellation mark and for the production of adhesive stamps, as is 
known to have been done on other occasions. But, pending confirmation by 
specimens on the original cover, the stamp is listed with much reserve. 



Description. 



Reference List. 



Cancellation or 
hand-stamp. 



Hill's Post. 



Before leaving the subject of the Boston carriers' stamps a few words 
must be said about another stamp which may possibly belong to this category. 
This is Hill's post, now classed among the locals (Standard catalogue, 60th 
edition, L147). Very little is known about this post. Oliver B. Hill was 
probably its proprietor. From the Boston city directory we obtain the follow- 
ing extracts : 

1843 Hill, Oliver B., grocer; 172 Hanover St.; House, etc. 

1844 " 

1845 " 

1846 " 
1846-47 " 
1847-48 " 
1848-49 
1849-50 " 
1850-51 " 



Clerk 

Post Office 
Penny Post 



Oysters, 52 Kneeland St. 



214 THE BOSTON CARRIERS STAMPS. 

When two years are given together the period covered is from July ist 
to July i st. In the two years left blank there is no record of his occupation, 
merely his name and residence. We do not know whether the words " Post 
office" imply a connection with the Government post office or merely the 
office of a private post But it is well known that the term "penny post " was 
applied both to local posts and to letter carriers. The name Oliver B Hill 
does not appear in the official register which contains the names of all post- 
masters, clerks, contractors, etc. Copies of the stamps are known with can- 
cellations dated in 1849 and early in 1850. The limited information which 
we now possess does not appear to warrant the inclusion of this stamp among 
the carriers. 



The Charleston Carriers' Stamps. 

After the uncertainty which surrounds most of the carriers' stamps, 
it is a pleasure to turn to those used in this city. We have very full and 
complete information concerning them, the circumstances under which they 
were issued, by whom and at what dates. Much of this information was 
obtained by the efforts of Mr. W. H. Faber, a resident of the city and 
personally acquainted with the carriers by whom the stamps were issued. 
Their history may be briefly summarized as follows : 

In 1849, John H. Honour received from Washington an appointment 
as letter carrier for the city of Charleston. He engaged his brother-in-law, 
E. J. Kingman, to assist him, the service being conducted in the name of Historical. 
Mr. Honour. About two years later they separated and divided the carrier 
business of the city between them, one taking the eastern half and the other 
the western. At the same time Mr. Kingman was appointed a carrier by the 
Postmaster of Charleston. Each carrier was under bonds to the Government 
in the sum of $2,000. 

In March, 1858, Mr. Kingman retired and his place was taken by 
Joseph G. Martin. In the summer of the same year, John F. Steinmeyer, Jr. 
was added to the carrier force. In i860, Mr. Honour retired and John C. 
Beckman was appointed in his place. Mr. Martin retired early in 1861, but 
the service was continued by the other two carriers until about 1865. 

Each of these carriers issued stamps. At first the stamps were made 
from engraved dies, but there is nothing to show whether they were printed 
from plates or from groups of electrotypes. It has been suggested that they 
were hand-stamped but the few copies which I have been able to examine 
have every appearance of having been printed on a press. Afterwards the 
stamps were set up from type and some of those issued by Mr. Steinmeyer 
appear to have been printed from electrotypes. The stamps were the product 
of local printing offices. Most of them were gummed with gum arabic which 
was applied, not by the printer, but by the owner himself. A few of the 
stamps were printed on rose or yellow paper but the majority of them were 
on the ordinary bluish writing paper of that period. For many years the 
catalogues listed several of the stamps on white paper. Prominent philatelists 
claim to have seen them and others, equally prominent, deny their existence 
on this paper. I have not been able to locate any copies in the hands of 
philatelists and, as there is a possibility that this paper may be merely the 



2 10 THE CHARLESTON CARRIERS STAMPS. 

ordinary bluish or grayish paper from which the color has been discharged, 
I have decided not to list them. 



Stamps of John H. Honour. 




Description. 



Typographed froni an engraved die. Printed in black on thin, colored 



wove paper. Size : 15^x19^11101. 

Reference List. Imperforate. 

Colored Wove Paper. 

[nly 14, 1849. 2 cents black on rose, brown-rose 

2 cents black on yellow 

Only a very few copies of this stamp are known. 



Description. 
Reference List. 



Paper. 




Typographed from an engraved die on thin, colored wove paper. Size : 
22x26mm. 

Imperforate. 

Colored Wove Paper. 

Aug. 16, 1849. 2 cents black on rose 

The American Journal of Philately tor December, 1888, describes this 
stamp as on yellow surfaced paper and not on rose paper, colored through, 
as we now know it. Probably the writer was misinformed. Coster calls the 
color "bistre-rouge." 

S honour's q 

ijpCITY POST i(S 

©2 Cents, fflj 
<2.'£ '&£.' S>2A§y 



Printed from a type-set plate, in black, on glazed paper, colored on the 
Description. surface. I have only seen three varieties but, doubtless, more exist. The 
plate probably contained from ten to twenty-five stamps. Size : 15x11mm. 



THE CHARLESTON CARRIERS STAMPS. 2 1 7 

Imperforate. Inference List. 

Wove Paper, Glazed and Surface-Colored. 

Oct. 20, 1849. — Mch. 5, 1850. 2 cents black on yellow, lemon-yellow, orange- 
yellow 

Principal variety : 

2 cents black on yellow. Error, "ccnts" in- 
stead of " cents " 

The American Journal of Philately for December, i 888, lists this stamp 
on yellow surfaced paper, blue writing paper and white paper. As the second Paper, 

paper has been dropped from the catalogues for some years, it was probably 
found to have been listed by error. The reason for omitting the third paper 
has already been explained. 

(3)HONODE'S'«:) 

2 Centb. jg 

Similar to the preceding but with six pearls at each side, instead of 
five. Type-set and printed on colored wove paper. The number of varieties Descr ption. 
is not known. Size: 15x13mm. 

Imperforate. Deference List. 

Colored Wove Paper. 
May 8, 1850. 2 cents black on gray-blue 

Some philatelists claim that this stamp is merely a variety in the plate 
of the preceding issue. When we consider the similarity of the two stamps, 
the conclusion does not appear unreasonable. 

@ Paid, © 

pHOHO0K'S(g 
g)CI'ii"POST Ci 

(:> 2 Cents fc.1 

Similar to the two preceding stamps but with the word " Paid " added 
at the top of the inscription. Type-set and printed, in black, on colored wove 
paper, varying in thickness. Mr. C. T. Harbeck has in his collection sixteen Description. 
varieties of this stamp. It is probable that the plate contained twenty-five 
varieties arranged in five rows of five stamps each. It is also possible that, 
as this stamp was in use for several years, there was more than one setting 
and printing of it. It is supposed that there were the same number of varieties 
of the stamps on pink pelure paper as on the other papers but, owing to the 
rarity of the pink stamps, it has not been possible to confirm this theory. 
Size: 14^x12^111111. 

Imperforate. Reference List. 

Colored Wove Paper. 

Apl. 25, 1851. — July 7, 1853. 2 cents black on gray-blue, blue-gray, gray, 

greenish gray 



2l8 THE CHARLESTON CARRIERS' STAMPS. 

Principal variety : 

Apl. 12, 1852. 2 cents black on gray-blue. Error, " cens 

instead of ' cents " 

Pelure Paper. 

2 cents black on pink 




Type-set and printed, in black, on colored wove paper. There are 
probably varieties of this stamp, as always occurs when stamps are type-set, 
Description. but, owing to the uniform shape and size of the ornaments which compose 
the border, the differences are so nrnute that they have not attracted the 
attention of philatelists. The American Journal of Philately for Decem- 
ber, 1888, says: " Typographed in sheet showing minor varieties." Size: 
16*^x1 7mm. 
Reference List. Imperforate. 

Colored Wove Paper. 

Dec. 4, 1854. — July 6, 1855. 2 (cents) black on gray-blue 

Strange to say, Mr. J. G. Martin, one of the Charleston carriers, says : 
"There was never a Honour issued of the description of the above," (see 
Stamp repudiated American Journal of P/iilatelv for March, 1898). None the less, I have seen 
four copies, all on the original covers, and all cancelled in Charleston at or 
between the dates here given. As the carrier service was at that time practic- 
ally a monopoly of Messrs. Honour and Kingman it is not probable that they 
would tolerate an attempt to establish a similar service and it is also doubtful 
whether the field was sufficiently large to attract the enterprise of others. As 
Mr. Martin was not connected with the carrier service until some four years 
after this stamp was in use, it is possible that he was not familiar with it or 
that his memory was at fault. Prominent philatelists have long considered 
this stamp to be one of the Honour issues and, apparently, with good reason. 



by J. 0. Martin. 




Type-set and printed on colored wove paper. Minor varieties doubt- 
Description, less exist, as in the preceding stamp, but the differences are so trifling that 
they have escaped notice. Size: 17^x131*1111. 

Reference List. Imperforate. 

Colored AVove Paper. "*-- 

(1856). (2 cents) black on gray-blue, gray 



THE CHARLESTON CARRIERS STAMPS. 



2 19 



The date is taken from Coster's book. In the American Journal of 
Philately for December, 1888, we find the date given as February 24th, 1852, Date of use. 
but the correctness of this has been doubted. 




Printed from a type-set plate on colored wove paper. Several varieties 
have been seen but the differences are minute. Size: i7xi2^mm. 

Imperforate. 

Colored Wove Paper. 

Feb. 21, 1858. (2 cents) black on gray-blue 

This date is taken from the only copy on the original cover which I 
have seen. The year is not very legible but I believe it to be as here given. 
Coster gives the date " 1859 or '60." The American Journal of Philately for 
December, 1888, says " May 9th, 1852." This also appears to be questioned. 



Description. 



Reference List. 



Date of use. 



Stamps of E. J. Kingman. 




Printed on colored wove paper from a type-set plate. The number of 
varieties is not known. I have seen only three. Mr. Kingman thinks the 
sheets contained two rows of five stamps each. Size : i7xi2^mm. 

Imperforate. 

Colored Wove Paper. 

Jan. 19, 185L — Jan. 20, 1858. 2 cents black on gray-blue 

2 cents black on green 

Coster and the American Journal of Philately both give 1850 as the 
date of this stamp. It is quite possible that they are correct. 

qj faid, (£5 

,J,KLNO.\LlN's£J 

,2, err* eosr.0 
gj a Oeuis. <y 

Type-set and printed on colored wove paper. Several varieties, pro- 
bably not less than ten. Size: 14^x12^111111. 

Imperforate. 

Colored Wove Paper. 

1 85 1 (?) 2 cents black on gray-blue 



Description. 



Reference List. 



Date of use. 



Description. 
Reference List. 



220 



THE CHARLESTON CARRIERS STAMPS. 



I have copied the date from a memorandum but cannot recall my 
authority for it The Honour stamp of similar design was issued in the 
same year. 



Stamp of Joseph G. Martin. 



Description. 



Reference List. 



Date of use. 



Description. 



Reference List. 



Date of use. 



9 martin's 
| City Post. M 

||Paid— 2 cts. g 



Type-set and printed on colored wove paper. Several varieties have 
been seen. Mr. Martin says, in the American Journal of Philately for March, 
1898: "I think there were twenty-five on a sheet, square, face value fifty 
cents." From the word " square " we may infer that the stamps were arranged 
in five rows of five stamps each. Size: 17x13mm. 

Imperforate. 

Colored Wove Paper. 

1858. 2 cents black on gray-blue 

Cancelled copies have not been seen but the date, 1858, is probably 
correct. Much earlier dates have been assigned to the stamp but they must 
be wrong, as Mr. Martin did not become a carrier until 1858. 



Stamps of John F. Steinmeyer. 




Impression from a type-set plate on colored wove paper. There are, 
doubtless, varieties of this stamp but they have not been chronicled. Size : 
17x13mm. 

Imperforate. 

Colored Wove Paper. 

1858 or 1859. 2 cents black on gray-blue 

The American Journal of Philately for February, 1889, gives the date 
of this stamp as 1850, but that is as manifestly incorrect as the locating of the 
post in Philadelphia, which is done by the same journal and by Coster. 

f| Steintneyer'' s |j 

I City Post 

I Paid-2 cts. M 



Typographed on various papers The sheets contain ten stamps, ar- 
Description. ranged in two vertical rows of five. There do not appear to be any varieties 
other than trifling differences in the impression. Size : 17x11^1x11x1. 



THE CHARLESTON CARRIERS STAMPS. 

Imperforate. 

Thin Colored Wove Paper. 

1858 or 1859. 2 cents black on gray-blue, gray 

Thick Coloied Wove Paper. 

2 cents black on yellow 

2 cents black on rose, dull rose 



Reference List. 



Stamp of John C. Beckman. 



Type-set and printed in black on colored wove paper. The stamp is 
of the same design as that issued by Mr. Martin and those issued in 1850-58 
by Messrs. Honour and Kingman. Only one copy is known but, doubtless, 
there were originally several varieties. Size : 17x13mm. 

Imperforate. 

Colored Wove Paper. 

i860. 2 cents black on gray-blue 



Counterfeits of the stamps of the Charleston carriers are plentiful. 
Apparently they all emanate from one source, probably that which supplied 
many of the reprints and counterfeits of the United States local stamps. The 
distinguishing marks of the counterfeits are not easy to describe, though they 
are unmistakable when compared with genuine stamps or good photographs. 
There is a clearness and carefulness in the priming which is not found in the 
originals. The letters of the inscriptions have a general resemblance, but 
comparison at once shows them to be from different fonts. The ornaments 
which form the borders are very sharp and are carefully set, while those of 
the original stamps are worn and carelessly arranged. In the second type of 
the Steinmeyer stamps, the ornaments which form the border at top and 
bottom have a shading on the inner side, while those at the sides have it on 
the outer side. In the commonest of the counterfeits the ornaments and, 
consequently, the shadings are reversed. There is another counterfeit which 
has all the ornaments correctly placed except the one on the right side, but a 
small oval has been added at the centre of the top and bottom borders, which 
is not found on the genuine stamps. Finally, the colors are not correct. The 
rose, yellow and green are too bright and the gray-blue, which varies a great 
deal in the originals, is nearly always a light " French gray " in the counter- 
feits. In the last color the paper is hard and highly finished and a little too 
thick. Comparison with the accompanying photogravure reproductions will 
enable the collector to readily detect the counterfeits. 



Description. 



Reference List. 



Counterfeits. 



The Louisville Carriers' Stamps. 

Thanks to the researches of Mr. F. W. H. Hahn of Louisville, we 
have quite full and satisfactory information concerning the carriers' stamps 
Historical. of that city. The carrier service was first established by the Louisville post 
office about 1854, one carrier being employed for the purpose. Charles P. 
Smith was first appointed. He delivered letters to houses and offices for a fee 
of two cents each but did not collect them for delivery to the post office. On 
January 1st, 1856, David B. Wharton succeeded Smith as carrier. Late in 
the year 1857 he decided to use stamps for collecting his fees and had them 
prepared. But before many of the stamps were used — certainly not over fifty, 
and some claim none at all — he was succeeded by Wilson Gough. This took 
place about the end of 1857 or possibly on January 1st, 1858. Soon after 
this Joseph G. Brown was appointed to assist Gough. Gough did not issue 
stamps and only retained the office a few months. On April 1st, 1858, S. B. 
McGill was appointed carrier, and he and Brown continued to act in this 
capacity until September 30th, i860. Brown and McGill decided to improve 
the service by issuing stamps. They bought from D. B. Wharton the outfit 
of letter boxes which he had had prepared and also the remainder of his 
stamps. There is a possibility that a few of the Wharton stamps were used 
while the Brown & McGill stamps were being prepared. These stamps were 
used only on letters bearing the regular United States postage stamps, not on 
circulars or private mail which did not pass through the post office. They 
paid the fee for delivering letters from or to the post office. The stamps were 
on sale in the post office, though not usually at the window at which the 
Government's stamps were sold. These carriers were under bonds of $2,000 
each to the Government. 



Stamps of David B. Wharton. 




Lithographed by Robyn <S: Co. in sheets of fifty stamps, arranged in 
two panes of twenty-five, five rows of five stamps each. The panes were 



THE LOUISVILLE CARRIERS STAMPS. 



separated by a space of 4mm. Each stamp was surrounded by a thin frame 
line, forming a rectangle about 24^x1 8^mm. The rectangles were separated 
by a space of imm. vertically and ^mm. horizontally. The words " robyn 
& co. lith." appear at the bottom of each stamp, extending from the left 
corner to about the middle of the stamp. 

Imperforate. 

White Wove Paper. 

1857. (2 cents) blue-green 

I have not seen any good counterfeits of this stamp. 



Description. 



Reference List. 



Stamps of Brown & McGill. 




Lithographed by Hart & Maypother, successors to Robyn & Co. The 
stamps are made in imitation of the Wharton stamp, from which they differ 
only in the lettering of the upper label and the omission of the name of Description, 
the makers. They are enclosed in a single-lined frame, measuring about 
24^x1 9^mm. Having seen only single copies, I am unable to give the 
distance between the stamps and their arrangement. The size of the sheets 
is not known but it was probably the same as for the Wharton stamp. 

Imperforate. Reference List. 

White Wove Paper. 

June 12, 1858. — June 29, i860. (2 cents) dull blue, dark blue 
April 13, (2 cents) black 

Mr. Hahn claims that none of the Brown & McGill stamps were printed 
in black and that, if such exist, they must be either discolored stamps or 
proofs. There is in the collection of Mr. C. T. Harbeck a fine copy, printed The black stamp, 
in black, which has every appearance of being genuine and in its original 
condition. It is on a letter, postmarked "April 13th" but with the year 
omitted. Apparently it is an early impression. It is my opinion that this 
is the color in which the stamp was first printed. 

In a communication which was printed in the American Journal of 
Philately for April, 1898, Mr. Hahn says : 

" About the year 1865 or 1866, Hussey, of New York, asked Mr. McGill for some 
remainders of the Brown & McGill stamps. He may have had some on hand but certainly 
wanted more and ordered Hart & Maypother to print 200 from the original stone. But, the Counterfeits. 
original not existing, a poor imitation or forgery was made and the stamps sent to Hussey as 
originals or reprints. The fact is, McGill, at the time, believed the forged stamps to be 
reprints." 

These so-called reprints are not very successful imitations of the 
originals. The eagle is quite incorrect in size and pose, the foliage is too 



224 THE LOUISVILLE CARRIERS STAMPS. 

abundant, the letters are too large, and there is an eight-pointed ornament at 
each side, instead of a small oval of crossed lines. There must have been 
more than one printing of these imitations, for I possess copies which differ 
widely in shade and paper. 

In addition to the foregoing — which may be called the official counter- 
feit — there are a number of others. The poorest of them should not deceive 
any one but it may be said that, instead of the small ovals which should 
separate the upper and lower labels, they show only two or three faint 
scratches. There is one counterfeit which quite closely resembles the original, 
but the work is too well done, the letters are slightly too large and the wings 
of the eagle do not touch the oval. 

Coster says that these stamps were issued in New York and the 
American Journal of Philately for 1888 assigns them to Baltimore. All of 
which proves nothing, except that it is easy to be mistaken. 



The New York Carriers' Stamps. 

To the city of New York belongs the distinction of placing in use the 
first stamp in the United States and the second in the world. This was a 
stamp of the City Despatch Post, issued in 1842. This post was a private Historical. 
enterprise and belongs to the large and interesting group of local posts. At ■ 
the same time, its history is so involved with that of the government carrier 
service in this city — which was modelled upon and succeeded the private post 
— that one cannot thoroughly consider the one without the other. In addition 
to this, a few stamps of the City Despatch Post v ere used provisionally by its 
official successor, the United States City Despatch Post. 

Greig's City Despatch Post. 

In the American Journal of Philately for June, 1894 (page 284), we 
find an article on the subject of this post, written by Charles Windsor, the 
son of its originator. At the commencement he says : "The founder, sole 
proprietor, manager and director was Henry Thomas Windsor, a London 
merchant, then on a visit to the United States, and residing temporarily in 
the suburb of Hoboken." In traveling through the country Mr. Windsor, who 
was familiar with the English postal system, was struck with the inefficiency 
of our postal arrangements and the excessive charges. He decided, as a 
business venture, to establish a private post in New York city. He associated 
with him his friend Alexander M. Greig, in whose name the post was estab- 
lished, with the idea that it would be more successful under the name of a 
well-known resident than under that of a stranger and alien. 

The American Journal of Philately for May, 1872, reproduces the 
following circular : 

NEW YORK CITY DESPATCH POST. 
Principal Office, 46 William Street. 

The necessity of a medium of communication by letter from one part of the City to 
another, being universally admitted, and the Penny Post, lately existing, having been relin- 
quished, the opportunity has been embraced to re- organize it under an entirely new proprie- ('j, cu i ar announcing 
tary and management, and upon a much more comprehensive basis, by which Despatch, the City Despatch 
Punctuality and Security, — those essential elements of success, — may at once be attained, Post. 

and the inconvenience now experienced be entirely removed. 

The Proprietors of the " City Despatch Post" enter upon the undertaking with an 
earnest impression of its responsibilities, and with a full determination so to perform the 
required duties as to merit the confidence and support of their fellow-citizens. They have 
engaged the most efficient and trustworthy Assistants and Letter Carriers, and no expense 
will be spared to bring the whole advantage of a well-considered system into active operation. 



226 



THE NEW YORK CARRIERS STAMPS. 



Success of tlu- 
post. 



Discontinuance oi' 
the post. 



The following is a brief outline of the plan : 

Branch Offices. — Letter Boxes are placed throughout every part of the City in con- 
spicuous places ; and all letters deposited therein, not exceeding two ounces in weight, will 
be punctually delivered three times a day, at 9, 1, and 4 o'clock, at three cents each ; option 
being given, either to free the letter, in the manner shown in the following regulations, 01 
leave the postage to be collected of the party to whom the letter is addressed 

Post-Paid Letters — Letters which the writers desire to send free, must have a free 
stamp affixed to them. An ornamental stamp has been prepared fortius purpose, and may 
be procured at the Principal Office as above, or at those stores which will be advertised in 
the daily papers as having authority to sell them. The charge will be 36 cents per dozen, 
or 2 dols. 50 cents per hundred ; the reduction of price for the larger quantity being made 
with a view to the accommodation of those parties sending a considerable number of circulars, 
accounts, &c. Parcels not exceeding 1 lb. in weight will be charged a proportionate rate. 

NO MONEY MUST BE PUT INTO THE BOXES. 

All letters intended to be sent forward to the General Post-Office for the inland mails 
must have a free stamp affixed to them. 

Letters and Newspapers addressed to the Editors of the Public Press, will be delivered 
free. 

Unpaid Letters — Letters not having a free stamp will be charged three cents, payable 
by the party to whom they are addressed, on delivery. 

Registry and Despatch. — A Registry will be kept for Letters which it may be wished 
to place under special charge. Free stamps must be affixed to such letters for the ordinary 
postage, and three cents additional be paid, for an additional free stamp be affixed,) for the 
Registration ; but all such Letters must be specially deposited at the Principal Office. 

A spec'al " Despatch " will be expedited with any Letter or Packet, not exceeding one 
pound in weight, (to an address within the limits,) at \2 l / 2 cents a mile, upon application at 
the Principal Office. 

The advantages offered by this undeitaking are : — 

First. — The secure and prompt transmission of all Registered Letters containing any 
special notice or matter, by which means legal evidence may be obtained of the due delivery 
ot the same; and the immediate despatch of any letter or small package requiring instant 
delivery. 

Secondly. — The certain and expeditious delivery of Mercantile Letters and Circulars, 
of Invitations and Replies (either under free stamp or unpaid), and every description of Com- 
mercial, Professional, and Social Correspondence ; thus bringing the most distant parts of 
the City in effect near to each other, and providing the means of constant intercourse at a 
very moderate charge. 

Alexander M. Greig, Agent. 

The Limits of the Despatch Post will extend to Twenty-First Street. 

It is interesting to note, in connection with this enterprise, the features 
of registration and special delivery, which are evidently not as modern ideas 
as we are accustomed to think. 

The post began its operations on January 1st, 1842. It appears to 
have been very successful and to have provided an efficient and satisfactory 
service. It soon attracted the notice of the Post Office Department as, owing 
to its superior service, it secured the handling of much of the local mail and 
thus reduced the revenue of the post office. The removal of such a rival was 
felt to be imperative. We do not know exactly what means were employed 
to accomplish this end. In the article previously referred to, Mr. Windsor 
says : " The Government soon proscribed the continuance of the Post, assert- 
ing it to be an infringement of governmental rights." And in another place : 
"The Government compelled him to discontinue it." But it is possible that 
other means than force were employed to bring about the result. In the 
American Journal of Philately for April, 1877, we find the following letter : 

Post Office Department. 

Contract Office. 

August 1, 1842. 
Sir : — By an order made on Saturday, but journalized to-day, the Postmaster General 
has established a letter carrier arrangement for the City of New York, to be called the 



THE NEW YORK CARRIERS STAMPS. 



127 



" United States City Despatch Post," for the conveyance of letters from one part of the city 
to another, subject to a charge on each letter of three cents, under the 20th section of the Act 
of 1836, and authorizes you to employ Alex. M. Greig, nominated by you, as letter carrier. 
Other carriers are to be appointed from time to time, as may be required, and you are 
requested to nominate for that purpose. And you are also authorized to obtain the necessary 
fixtures, pouches, boxes, labels, stamps, etc., at not exceeding $1,200 for the whole, and to 
appoint a clerk to superintend said establishment at not exceeding $i,oco per annum. You 
will be pleased to report the date of the commencement of this arrangement. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

S. R. Hobbie, 
John Lorimer Graham, Esck, First Asst. P. M. General. 

Postmaster, New York. 

From this letter we may conclude that the Post Office Department, 
having seen the success of a local delivery service, had determined to establish 
such for itself, as authorized by the Act of July 2nd, 1836. By taking Mr. 
Greig into its service it removed a rival and, at the same time, secured an 
efficient and experienced employee. The City Despatch Post was probably 
abandoned temporarily, although this is not positive. We know that it was in 
business in 1848 and continued until 1859. But our interest in it is only as 
the predecessor of the Government post. 

The stamps of the City Despatch Post were engraved on steel by 
Rawdon, Wright & Hatch, 48 Merchants Exchange. They were printed on 
grayish white paper, in sheets of forty-two stamps, seven rows of six stamps 
each. 

It is well-known that these stamps were used provisionally for the 
service of the United States City Despatch Post, presumably during the 
preparation of stamps for the latter. The stamps thus used bear the cancel- 
lations employed in the New York post office, usually the letters "us" in 
an octagon, occasionally a circle with date and the words " new york " or 
" u. s. city despatch post." The only dated copy of which I have a 
memorandum is not on the original cover. It is cancelled "Feb. 15," pre- 
sumably 1843, but, as usual, the year is not given. This, of course, does not 
prove that the stamp was not in use at an earlier date. 

The stamps measure i8^x22mm. 



Letter concerning 

cnrrier service for 

New York City. 



Engraving. 

Size of sheets. 



Stamps used 
provisionally. 




Imperforate. 

Grayish White Wove Paper. 

Feb. 15 (1843?) 3 cents black 

In the collection of Mr. H. E. Deats there is a copy of this stamp 
which has the words " United States" written across the top in red-violet ink. 
Nothing is known of the history of this surcharge but its intention is apparent. 
The letter to which this is attached is dated August 14th, 1842. The can- 
cellation is apparently " Aug. 19th," but examination shows the " 9 " to be an 
inverted " 6." 



Reference List. 



Manuscript 
surcharge. 



228 THE NEW YORK CARRIERS' STAMPS. 

Reference List. Imperforate. 

Grayish White Wove Paper. 
Aug. 16, 1842. 3 cents black. Surcharge in red-violet 



United States City Despatch Post. 

Turning to the letter quoted on the preceding page, we cannot fail to 
observe that the Postmaster General exceeded his authority when he ordered 
Authority exceeded, the preparation of stamps, since that is the exclusive prerogative of Congress. 
It is possible that the "stamps " to which he referred were the hand stamps 
used to cancel letters and indicate postage paid ; in which case it was the 
Postmaster of New York who overstepped the limits of authority. A careful 
examination of certain facts leads me to the conclusion that the matter had 
been thoroughly considered and discussed previous to the writing of this 
Preparations made letter, that the accessories therein ordered had already been purchased, and 
formal orders that, so far as they were concerned, the letter was a mere formality. The 
principal confirmation of this statement is found in dated cancellations. It is 
generally understood that the service was put in operation on August 1st, 1842, 
and I have seen a copy of the stamp cancelled "August 5th, 1842." It will 
be evident, at a glance, that this order, made in Washington on the 1st, could 
not have been carried into effect in New York by the 5th, unless the stamps 
had been previously prepared. 

The following circular was first reproduced in the American Journal 
of Philately for February, 1872 : 

United States City Despatch Post. 

Hours of delivery every day (Sunday excepted) at (he principal office, upper P. O., 
Park, and lower P. O., Merchant's Exchange. 
Official circular. Letters deposited before 8, 12, 3, and at the stations befoie 7, 1 1 and 2, will be sent 

out for delivery at 9, 1 and 4. 

Letters to be sent free must have a free stamp attached to them, which can be pur- 
chased at the upper and lower post offices and at all the stations. The charge will be 36 
cents per dozen. 2 dols 50 cents per hundred. All letters intended to be sent forward to 
the General Post-office for the inland mails must have a free stamp attached to them. Letters 
not having a free stamp will be chajged 3 cents on delivery. 

John Lorimer Graham, P. M. 
New York, June, 1 84 3 . 

This circular is again printed in an article in the American Journal of 
Philately for April, 1877. The writer calls attention to its previous publica- 
tion and the date and adds : "We afterwards obtained a very large card bear- 
ing precisely the same matter, but dated sometime in 1842, this was evidently 
issued simultaneously with the stamps." 

The circular was also printed in the Manual of the Common Council 
of the City of New York for 1842-43, with the addition of an almost verbatim 
Additions to the reproduction of the paragraphs in Greig's circular which related to registra- 
tion and the advantages claimed for the undertaking (see Philatelic Journal 
of America, Vol. V, page 127), and with this further addition : 

" Limits, U S City Despatch Post will extend to Twenty-second Street. 
An additional number of sworn carriers have been employed to carry city letters 
wholly independent of letters received by the mails." 



circular 



THE NEW YORK CARRIERS STAMPS. 



22( 




The stamps were engraved on steel by Rawdan, Wright & Hatch, and 
are said to have been in sheets of one hundred. The paper varies in color 
and quality. At first it was of moderate thickness and colored through. 
This was soon changed for a thick paper, slightly glazed on the surface and 
usually not colored through or only lightly tinted. This paper sometimes 
appears to be ribbed. The paper longest in use was highly glazed and colored 
on the surface only. The shades are numerous, especially on the paper last 
described. Size: i8j4x22mm. 



Engraving. 

Size ol' sheets. 
Paper. 



Iteference List. 



Wove Paper, Colored Through. 

3 cents black on rosy-buff 

Aug. 5, 1842. — Sept. 1, 1842. 3 cents black on gray-blue, dull gray-blue 

3 cents black on pale green 

Thick Wove Paper, Glazed and Surface-Colored. 

Feb. 22, 1842. — Oct. 24, 1846. 3 cents black on light blue, blue, bright blue, 

deep blue, dark blue, pale greenish blue, 
greenish blue 

July 4, 1843. — July 23, 1845. 3 cents black on bluish green, green, dark 

green, olive-green 

Variety : 

3 cents black on greenish blue, green. Double 
impression 

Several of the older writers mention copies of this stamp printed in 
violet. As the color was dropped from the catalogues many years ago, it was 
probably found not to exist. 

On at least two occasions the stamps of the United States City Des- 
patch Post were used to pay regular postage to other cities. This is proved by stamps used to pay 
original covers bearing the stamps. The first of these is addressed to Phila- regular postage, 
delphia and bears five of the stamps. On holding the cover to a strong light 
there can be seen, written on the paper underneath the stamps : 

_"Paid 3 cents for City Despatch 

12^ for Philadelphia. Paid" 

The stamps are cancelled " U. S." in an octagon, as usual. On the 
cover are the circular date stamp " New York, May 30 " and the word " paid ", 
both in red. There are also the figures "12" in dark blue ink, apparently 
written by the mailing clerk. The second cover is similar to the first. It is 
addressed to Ridgefield, Conn., and bears three stamps, underneath which is 
written " Paid 10c." The cancellations are like those just described, the date 



23° 



THE NEW YORK CARRIERS STAMPS. 



Change iu rates. 



being June 13th, and the written figures " 10." It is unfortunate that neither 
cover bears anything to show the year in which it was used. 

It will be noticed that the written figures and the amount of the postage 
stamps do not exactly agree but such discrepancies appear to have been 
lightly regarded at that period Even the official circular offers 3 cent stamps 
at 2^/2, cents each, when purchased by the hundred. 

By Act of Congress, approved March 3rd, 1845, the rate for drop 
letters was reduced to two cents. Carriers were allowed to charge a like 
amount. We do not know what steps, if any, were taken in the city of New 
York to meet this reduction. Indeed, to judge by the numerous three cent 
stamps of the United States City Despatch Post to be found on letters dated 
in 1845 and 1846, it would appear that the old rates were maintained. Possibly 
an effort in the direction of a reduction may be indicated by a stamp, formerly 
in the collection of Mr. F. W. Hunter, which is here illustrated. 



A provisional 
surcharge. 



Reference List. 



Counterfeits. 




The stamp is on the original letter, which is dated February 14th, 
1846. The surcharged numeral and the bar over the word "three" are in 
red, of the same shade as the cancellations. There are two cancellations : 
first, the usual circle with the name of the post, date and hour; second, 
another circle with the words "new york — feb. 14 — 2 cts.," the numeral 
" 2 " being identical with that used for the surcharge. 

Imperforate. 
Thick Glazed Paper, Surface-Colored. 
Feb. 14, 1846. 2 cents on 3 cents green. Surcharge in red 

It is to be regretted that we have been unable to learn anything of the 
history of this surcharge. 

There are counterfeits of the stamps of this post but they are not 
dangerous. They are poorly made by lithography, while the originals are 
finely engraved on steel. None of the portraits on the counterfeits at all 
resemble that on the original stamp. 



City Despatch. 




Nothing is known of the history of this stamp. The older philatelic 



THE NEW YORK CARRIERS STAMPS. 231 

publications assign it to Boston and give 1845 as the year of issue. We now 

know it to belong among the New York carriers' stamps and to have been Historical. 

the successor of the United States City Despatch Post. The stamps are 

roughly typographed, probably from metal cliches reproduced from a wood Description. 

cut. Size: 19x24^01111. There are no varieties. The number of stamps in 

a sheet is not known. 

Imperforate. Reference List. 

White Wove Paper. 
March 13, 1846. 2 cents brown-red 

The above date is taken from a cancelled copy of the stamp. Another 
copy has been seen bearing the date " Dec. 9," but not that of the year. 

The counterfeits are lithographed and differ from the originals in many 
points. They measure 20x26mm., the letters of the inscriptions are too tall, Counterfeits. 
and the outer line of the oval is equally distant from the frame line at each 
side, while in the originals it approaches nearer to the line at the left than to 
that at the right. 



U. S. Mail. 




Coster, in 1882, and the American Journal of Philately, in 1888, say 
that the stamps of this type were issued by the Postmaster of New York. By 
the Act of March 3rd, 1851, the rate for delivery of letters from or to the Reduction of the 
post office was reduced to one cent each. As we find copies of these stamps carriers" fee. 
cancelled early in 1849, we must conclude that, in this city, the reduction was 
made fully two years earlier than the date of the Act referred to. Probably 
this was brought about by the competition of the local posts. 

The stamps are typographed on thick wove paper, colored through, 
and on thick glazed paper, colored on the surface only Diameter : 16mm. 
The stamps are all of one type. The number in a sheet is not known but a Description. 
block of twenty (four rows of five) has been seen. There exists also a pair 
of the stamps, one of which is placed semi tete-beche to the other, i. e. side- 
ways. This pair is on buff glazed paper. The same variety may occur on 
the other papers but it has not been reported. 

Imperforate. Reference List, 

Thick Wove Paper, Colored Through. 

Feb. 13, 1849.- — Sept. 12, 1849. 1 cent black on pale dull rose, dull rose, rose 

Thick Wove Paper, Glazed and Surface-Colored. 

Dec. 8, 1849. — June t, 1853. 1 cent black on buff, brownish buff 
Sept. 16, 1850 — Aug. 13, 1851. 1 cent black on yellow, bright yellow 



232 THE NEW YORK CARRIERS STAMPS. 

Variety : 

1 cent black on buff. Semi tete-beche 

I have seen a cover bearing three of the yellow stamps, which appar- 
stanips used to pay ently paid the regular postage. The letter was mailed in New York city on 

regular postage. j u]y ^^ ^^ and wag addresse( j to Newburgh, N. Y. 

There are two counterfeits of these stamps which are quite well made. 
The first is hand-stamped, is 17mm. in diameter and many of the letters are 
Counterfeits. too broad, especially those in " one cent". The second counterfeit is typo- 
graphed. The circles and the letters are too thick, the diameter is 17mm., 
there is no period after the "u" and the letters are too broad, especially those 
of the word " one ". The yellow glazed paper is very like that of the original 
stamps. The other two colors are not well imitated. 



The Philadelphia Carriers' Stamps, 

Of the history of the carriers' stamps used in the city of Philadelphia 
we know nothing. For many years the stamps have been accepted by philate- 
lists as belonging among the semi-official carriers' stamps and the manner in 
which they were used appears to confirm this conclusion. But, beyond what 
may be learned from examination of the stamps, we have little information. 
All the stamps bear the letters " u. s. p. o." and were at one time believed to 
be issues of the Union Square Post Office, a local post of New York city. 
After it was discovered that the stamps emanated from Philadelphia and 
belonged among the carriers' stamps, it was decided that the letters were the 
initials of the words "united states post office", which is probably 
correct. 



U. S.P.Q. 
PAID. 
LICentP 1 



Type-set stamps with the value and certain letters in the lower part. 
The letters are : " h ", " s ", " l p " and " l s ". In the American Journal 
of Philately for February, 1889 (page 57), there is listed a variety with the Letters on the 
letters " l h " but this was probably intended for the variety with the letter stamps. 

" h " only. There are a number of varieties of setting for each letter or pair 
of letters. I have seen five varieties with the letter " h ", one with " s ", two 
with " l p ", and five with " l s ". It is believed that all these varieties, and 
probably others, occurred in one setting. But we have not seen any fragments 
of sheets, or even a pair, to assist in confirming this theory. The number of 
stamps in a sheet and the manner in which the varieties were arranged are, 
therefore, yet to be ascertained. 

The purpose of these letters has never been satisfactorily explained. I 
venture to suggest that they are the initials of the carriers on whose routes 
they were employed. It is evident from the dates of the cancellations that meaning of the 
the different varieties were in use at the same time. As the carriers were letters, 

not paid a fixed salary but. only for the letters they handled, it would be 
necesssry that the stamps used by them should be marked in some way, in 
order that each might receive proper credit and compensation. Hence the 
initials. In subsequent issues the same end was attained by using stamps 
printed on paper of different colors or in inks of various colors. Reference 
to the preceding chapters will show that, in other cities, carriers' stamps of 



234 



THE PHILADELPHIA CARRIERS STAMPS. 



Earliest 

cancellation. 



Reference List. 



Counterfeits. 



Description. 



Reference List. 



different designs or printed on different papers were used concurrently. In 
all these instances the object was, doubtless, to secure a division of the 
carriers' fees, in accordance with the work performed by each. 

In the collection of a New York philatelist there is a copy of this 
stamp, bearing the letters "ls" and cancelled " m — 18, 1849 ". Beyond the 
initial letter, the month is illegible. It must be March or May. Accepting 
the latter, this is the earliest known cancellation on any of the lettered stamps. 

These stamps are printed on thick, soft, rose-colored paper and meas- 
ure about 155-2x11^111111. 

Imperforate. 

Colored Wove Paper. 

1 cent black on rose. 

1 cent black on rose. 

1 cent black on rose. 

1 cent black on rose. 
There are two counterfeits of these stamps. The first is in imitation 
of the variety with the letters " l p ". It measures 14^x11^111111 The frame 
lines are much too thin and there is no period after "cent ". The letters of 
" paid " are only i^mm. high, instead of 2^mm. They are also narrower 
and set a little closer together than on the genuine stamps. The color of the 
paper is usually too pale. The second counterfeit is not nearly so dangerous. 
It is in imitation of the varieties lettered "l p" and " l s " and is printed on 
thin lilac-rose paper. It is i6^mm. long and varies in height from 9% to 
10mm. The letters of the inscriptions are all too short and too heavy 
faced. 



May 18, 1849 — May 25 

June 16, 1849. 

July 16, 1850 — Aug. 10 



L s 

L P 

S " 

H " 



U- S- P. 0- 
PAID. 

1 Cent. 



Type-set stamps, of similar design to those just described but without 
the letters in the lower corners. It is not known whether or not these 
stamps formed part of the setting of those with the letters but, from the fact 
that the stamps on blue, vermilion and yellow paper are only known with- 
out the letters, it is inferred that they are from another setting. From the 
postmarks we conclude that the stamps from the two settings were in use 
coincidently. The stamps measure 15^x1 i^mm. and are printed on a 
variety of papers. The rose-colored paper is thick and soft and is colored 
through. The other papers are glazed and colored on the suiface only. 
Seven varieties of this setting are known. The sheets probably contain from 
ten to twenty-five stamps. 

Imperforate. 

Thick Wove Paper, Colored Through. 
May 14, 1849. 1 cent black on rose, dull rose 

Thick Wove Paper, Glazed and Surface-Colored. 
May 11, 185c — Dec. 19, 1850. 1 cent black on blue, dark blue 

1 cent black on vermilion 
1 cent black on yellow 



THE PHILADELPHIA CARRIERS STAMPS. 



2 35 



The American Journal of Philately for 1889 (pages 56 and 57), gives 
a reference list of the Philadelphia carriers' stamps, which includes this stamp 
in black on white paper. As no such variety appears in subsequent lists we 
may infer that it was found not to exist. It was probably confounded with 
one of the varieties of the stamp next to be described. 

So far as I am aware, there are no counterfeits which sufficiently 
resemble the genuine stamps to merit description. 




Lithographed in color on a variety of papers. Apparently each stamp 
in the sheet differs from the others. I have recognized sixteen varieties. It 
is possible that some of them may be due to defective printing but, on the 
other hand, I have seen a number of copies of most of them, which would 
indicate that the varieties are constant. It has been said that the sheet con- 
tained twenty or twenty-five stamps but I have not been able to confirm the 
statement. A vertical strip of three and a horizontal pair — the latter with 
margin from the right of the sheet — are all that I have seen, otherwise than 
singly. 

The American Journal of Philately for 1889, says the stamps were 
engraved on wood and others have called them type-set and typographed. It 
is probable that the writers were led to these conclusions by the variations in 
the relative positions of the inscriptions and ornaments to each other and to 
the surrounding frame. But a careful examination of the stamps shows them 
to be lithographed. The differences in position of the component parts were 
caused by transferring each part separately, instead of the design as a whole. 
None of these stamps are common, but those most often seen are printed in 
gold bronze on black, surface-colored paper. This paper is highly glazed and 
has a purple sheen when held to the light. Size : 19^x1 5 3^mm. 

Imperforate. 

White Wove Paper. 

8, 1850. — Oct. 8, 1852. 1 cent dull blue, dark dull blue 
1852. — Dec. 15, 1852. 1 cent black 

Thick Wove Paper, Glazed and Surface-Colored. 

_i, 1 85 1 . — Dec. 13, 1851. 1 cent gold on black 

The older philatelic publications list this stamp in black on blue paper. 
I have not been able to locate a copy and have reached the conclusion that 
the stamp which they intended to describe was that printed in blue on white 
paper, which latter they do not mention. 

There are at least four counterfeits of these stamps. One may be 
easily recognized by having a period after the " o " in the upper label and the 
serif of the " 1 " pointing to the left. In all the genuine stamps the serif is 
turned toward the right. On each of the other counterfeits there are two 



Mch. 1 

Aug. 5. 

Mch. -x 



Counterfeits. 



Description. 



Method of 
production. 



Reference List. 



Counterfeits. 



236 THE PHILADELPHIA CARRIERS' STAMPS. 

short and nearly vertical dashes below the " o " of " u. s. p. o." As some of 
the genuine stamps have two dots in nearly the same position, this cannot be 
regarded as a positive test and any doubtful specimens should be compared 
with photographic reproductions of the original varieties. 





TYPE I. TYPE II. 

We have now to consider two hand-stamps which are certainly very 
puzzling. In addition to the fact that they are of some considerable degree of 
Various uses of rarity, they appear to have been used, at different times, as adhesive stamps, 
envelope stamps and postmarks. It is not always possible to decide for 
which of the last two purposes they were used. This confusion is largely 
due to the irregular manner in which they were hand-stamped on the envel- 
opes. Type I is usually applied at the left side, sometimes in the upper cor- 
ner but more often in a position about equally distant from the upper and 
lower edges. Type II is commonly placed near the middle of the upper 
side and occasionally in the upper right corner. Collectors in Philadelphia 
have advanced the theory that people, when intending to use these envelopes, 
took them to the post office and had them stamped, paying one cent each 
for the impressions. The work was probably done hastily, which would ac- 
count for the irregular positions of the hand-stamps. 

There is in the Tapling collection an unused, unaddressed envelope, 
stamped with type I, which may be accepted as corroborative evidence that 
stamped envelopes were prepared from this design. 

It is said that when type II was used to make adhesive stamps, it was 
always impressed on the margins of the one cent stamps of the regular issue 
Adhesive stamps ofi85i. I have never seen the adhesives of this type on any other paper 
of type 11. |j Ut am not prepared to assert that they were never made otherwise. I have 
also seen a letter, dated July 18th, 1856, bearing a one cent stamp of the 
1851 issue, which was cancelled with type II, the cancellation being partly 
on the stamp and partly on the envelope. 

The stamps of type I measure 21x17mm., those of type II, 27x18^ 
mm. They are hand-stamped on various papers, in. blue, red and black ink. 
Colors. Blue was commonly used for type I, black for the adhesive stamps of type 

II, and red for the envelopes. Coster says the red color was used for 
letters on which the fee was paid at the time they were deposited in the post 
office. The limited number of copies, especially those with dated cancella- 
tions, and the absence of information concerning these stamps, does not 
permit us even to venture a theory regarding the colors. They may have 
been employed for different carriers, they may mark different periods of use, 
or they may have been used at convenience and indicate nothing. 

The paper is usually wove. Most of the buff envelopes have a strong 
tinge of orange and some might call them by the latter name. A copy of 



THE PHILADELPHIA CARPIERS STAMPS. 



237 



Dates of use. 



Reference List. 



type II has been seen on gray paper, so thick as to be almost cardboard. Paper. 

The catalogues have long listed an envelope of this type, stamped in blue on 
buff paper. I have not been able to confirm the existence of this envelope 
but, as I am equally unable to disprove it, I do not feel warranted in refus- 
ing to list it. 

Information about the dates of use of these stamps is sadly lacking. 
The cancellations usually have only the month and day. The American 
Journal of Philately for March, 1891 (page 132) gives the date of type I as 
1 85 1 . The Philatelic Monthly and World for March, 1892 (page 23) places 
type II at 1852-53, which date is also given by Coster. The only two dates 
which I have been able to secure are included in the following list: 

ADHESIVE STAMPS. 

Imperforate. 
Various Papers. 
1 cent blue on buff. Type I 

1 cent blue on blue 
1 cent red on white 
1 cent black on white. Type II 
1 cent black on gray 

ENVELOPES. 

Various Papers. 

1 cent blue on buff. Type I 

1 cent blue on blue 

1 cent red on buff 

1 cent blue on buff Type II 

Mch. 31, 1856. 1 cent black on buff 

1 cent black on blue 

1 cent black on white 

1 cent red on buff " 

1 cent red on blue 
July 5, 1852. 1 cent red on white 

Type I is often cancelled with the small red star which was extensively 
used as a cancellation for the Philadelphia carriers' stamps and also for the 
Government carrier (Eagle) issued November 17th, 1851, and to be described Cancellations. 
in a subsequent chapter. Another cancellation closely resembles the stamps 
of type II. It may be known by the inscription " u. s. p. o. despatch" 
which is in Roman capitals, while on the stamps it is in sans-serif capitals. 
Envelopes bearing this cancellation mark are sometimes offered for sale as 
carriers' envelopes and unscrupulous people have even gone so far as to cut 
these marks from envelopes and affix them to others, that they might appear 
to have been used as adhesives. 

The Philatelic Monthly and World for September, 1 898, chronicles an 
envelope which has, at the left side, a stamp of type* I printed in blue and 
cancelled with the red star, and, in the upper right corner, a stamp of type II 
impressed in red. The description does not specify whether the latter is the 
cancellation mark or the device used to indicate postage prepaid. 



Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Pony Express Stamps. 

The pony express has always been a subject of interest, both to the 
student of history and the ordinary reader. Its conception and management 
were bold, daring, spectacular — thoroughly in keeping with the men, the life 
and the phenomenal development of the great west. It existed in a history- 
making epoch and itself helped to make history. As an exhibition of American 
pluck and nerve, it appeals to all admirers of large ideas and bold deeds. 

In Filatclic Facts and Fallacies, volumes II and III, we find a number 
of interesting articles on the origin and management of the pony express. 
These articles are from the pen of Mr. H. B. Phillips — widely known as a 
writer and authority on western franks — and from them the following extracts 
have been selected : 

" It is popularly supposed that Wells, Fargo & Co. started the original Pony Express, 
hut such is not the case Wells, Fargo & Co. operated the Pony express in 1861, but with 
The original pony that of i860 they had nothing to do. 

ress John S. Jones, a government freighter, and William H. Russell (of the firm of Russell, 

Majors & Waddell, also government freighters to Salt Lake in 1857-S8), started a stage and 
express line between Leavenworth and Denver, via the Smoky Hill route, in the spring of 
1859, which they operated during that summer. The following winter the firm was re- 
organized, absorbing the John Hockaday line, operating between St. Joseph and Salt Lake 
City, and was styled 'The Central Overland California and Pike's Peak Fxpress Company,' 
with William H. Russell as President. This is the company that organized and operated the 
original Pony Express of i860. * * * 

After months of preparation in establishing stations, procuring riders and relays of 
horses, at last, on April 3rd, i860, at four o'clock p. m., the first express was simultaneously 
dispatched from both ends of the run — San Francisco and St. Joseph, Mo. 

The following advertisement, from the Evening Bulletin of April 1st, is an official 
record of the established rates of postage, it being understood that they carried nothing 
whatever but letters : 

' The Central Overland Pony Express Com- 
pany will start their letter express from San 
Francisco to New York and ii termediate points 
on Tuesday, April 3rd. 

Letters will be charged, between San 
Fiancisco and Salt Lake City, $3.00 for each 
half ounce and under, and at that rate according 
to weight. To all points beyond Salt Lake City, 
$5.00 for each half ounce and under, and at that 
rate according to weight. All letters must be 
enclosed in stamped envelopes. 

Wm. W. Finney, Agent, San Francisco. 

In this connection the term 'stamped envelopes' does not mean, as at the present 
time, the envelopes made by the Government, but that all letters offered for transmission 
should be prepaid with the Government rate of postage, an adhesive stamp on the envelope 
being included in the term ' stamped envelopes.' 

No adhesive stamps were prepared or used by this company, either for sale to the 
public or for the purpose of collecting postage. Hand stamps were placed in use at both 



WELLS, FARGO & CO. S PONY EXPRESS STAMPS. 239 

ends of the line, following the usual custom of Western expresses at that time. * * * 

The Pony made the time promised for it and carried the letters and news, but the 
projectors were never compensated in money for their outlay. As an undertaking it was a 
success, but financially it was a failure. 

The cost of establishing and maintaining the Pony Express was enormous. Relays of 
horses were kept at each station and rideis employed at every third station and, as the 
country produced nothing at that time, all supplies had to be hauled by wagon from the 
Missouri river, Utah or California. 

The newspapers were its principal patrons. The California press depended entirely 
upon the Pony Express for news, until the completion of the overland telegraph line in the 
fall of 1861. * * * 

The letters were wrapped in oil silk for protection against wet, but that did not avail 
when swimming swollen streams. Occasionally hostile Indians chased the pony. On one 
occasion the rider was shot and scalped, the horse escaping with the ' machillas,' and months 
afterwards they were found and the inclosed letters forwarded to their destinations. 

The express carrying the news of Abraham Lincoln's election went through from St. 
Joseph to Denver, 6O5 miles, in two days and twenty-one hours. The riders usually rode 
about seventy-five miles, but an instance is remembered where one rode nearly 300 miles, 
those who should have relieved him being, for some reason or another, disabled. He made it 
in schedule time, too, but at the end had to be lifted from the saddle, almost dead. The 
distance from St. Joseph to Sacramento was about 1,900 miles and was covered in eight days. 
Think of that, for horse and human flesh and blood to do ! 

The pony rider was usually a little bit of a man, brim full of spirit and endurance. 
* * * Both horse and rider went flying light, the rider carried no arms but a revolver, and 
nothing that was not absolutely necessary. He rode a splendid horse that was born for a 
racer, with a skeleton saddle, lightly shod or not at all. There were about eighty riders in 
the saddle all the time, night and day, stretching in a long, scattering, fleeting procession 
from Missouri to California- — forty flying eastward and forty to the west — using some four 
hundred horses continuously." 

The breaking out of the war of the rebellion necessitated some changes 
in transporting the mails between the eastern states and the Pacific coast. 
These changes are briefly described in the report of the Postmaster General, 
dated December 2nd, 1861 : 

Overland California Mail. 

" By the 9th section of an Act of Congress approved March 2, 1861, entitled ' An Act 
making appropriations for the service of the Post Office Department during the fiscal year 
ending June 30, 1862', authority is given to the Postmaster General to discontinue the mail Changes in mail 
service on the southern overland route (known as the Butterfield route) between St. Louis routes and con- 
and Memphis and San Francisco, and to provide for the conveyance, by the same parties, tracts. 

of a six-times-a-week mail by the 'central route'; that is, 'from some point on the Missouri 
River, connecting with the east, to Placerville, California.' 

In pursuance of this Act, and the acceptance of its terms by the mail company, an 
order was made on the 12th of March, 1861, to modify the present contract, so as to discon- - 
tinue service on the southern route, and to provide for the transportation of the entire letter 
mail six times a week on the central route, to be carried through in twenty days eight months 
in the year, and in twenty-three days four months in the year, from St. Joseph, Missouri (or 
Atchison, Kansas) to Placerville, and also to convey the entire mail three times a week to 
Denver City and Salt Lake ; the entire letter mail to California to be carried, whatever may 
be its weight, and in case it should not amount to 600 pounds, then sufficient of other mail 
to be carried each trip to make up that weight, the residue of all mail matter to be conveyed 
in thirty-five days, with the privilege of sending it from New York to San Francisco in 
twenty-five days by sea, and the public documents in thirty-five days ; a pony express to be 
run twice a week until the completion of the overland telegraph, through in ten days eight p ny express. 
months and twelve days four months, in the year, conveying for the Government, free of 
charge, five pounds of mail matter; the compensation for the whole service to be one million 
of dollars per annum, payable from the general treasury, as provided by the act ; the service 
to commence July 1, 1861, and terminate July 1, 1864. 

The transfer of stock from the southern to the central route was commenced about the 
1st of April, and was completed so that the first mail was started from St. Joseph on the day 
prescribed by the order, July 1 , 1861." 

The portion of the above mentioned act which refers to the pony 
express is especially interesting to philatelists. It reads : 

"They shall also be required, during the continuance of their contract, or until the 



240 



WELLS, FARGO & CO. S PONY EXPRESS STAMPS. 



Tariff on private 
correspondence. 



Stamps. 



Advertise nient. 



Description. 



completion of the Overland Telegraph, to run a Pony Express ; semi-weekly, at a schedula- 
tion often days eight months, and twelve days four months, carrying for the Government, 
free of charge, five pounds of mail matter, with the liberty of charging the public for trans- 
portation of letters by said Express not exceeding one dollar per half ounce. ' 

Our interest lies in the last clause, since, by reason of it, the pony- 
express stamps were issued and through it they claim a place among the semi- 
official carriers. Though the act does not, in so many words, authorize the 
contractors to issue stamps, it most distinctly authorizes the carrying of letters 
and fixes the rate of postage that may be charged. The manner in which 
payment of this charge should be indicated was a matter of detail to be left to 
the managers of the express. It may also be remarked that no objection was 
ever made to the employment of the stamps. 

The following advertisement appeared in the San Francisco daily 
papers of July ist, 1861 : 

" Wells, Fargo's Pony Express service will 
commence July 1st, 1861, between Placerville 
and San Francisco, connecting at Placerville 
with the Overland Mail Co's Pony Express. 

Letters must be enclosed in our 20c Govt. 
Flanked Envelopes and charges beyond Placer- 
ville prepaid at the rate of $r 00 per '/ 2 oz. or 
fraction. All letters not enclosed in Govt. 
Franked Envelopes will be charged 25c each. 

Wells, Fargo & Co." 

The Overland Mail Co. held the contract for the "central route." I 
have not been able to learn the exact relations, at that date, between that 
company and Wells, Fargo & Co., but I believe that the latter were sub-con- 
tractors to the former. 

Whether the pony express stamps were used from both ends of the 
route or only from the California end, is another point on which definite 
information is lacking. 

The stamps were lithographed by Britton & Rey, of San Francisco. 
There were two designs, the so-called garter type and the well-known pony 
express stamps. The former are i5^mm. in diameter and the latter measure 
2ix24^mm. I cannot say which variety was first in use but I believe the 
garter type to have been. 




Reference List. 



July 1, 1 86 1 . 



Imperforate. 
Thin White Wove Paper. 
1 dollar deep blue, dark dull blue 




WELLS, FARGO & CO.'S PONY EXPRESS STAMPS. 241 

Imperforate. 
White Wove Paper. 

1 dollar deep rose, carmine-rose 

2 dollars deep gray-green 
4 dollars black, gray-black 

The first printing of the pony stamps was on quite thick paper. The 
paper of the later printings varies from ordinary to thin. It is said that only Paper and gum. 
the stamps of the first printing were gummed and that subsequent printings 
were issued ungummed. 

On the completion of the overland telegraph line, in October, 1861, 
the contract for pony express service terminated. By a circular, dated 
October 26th, r 86 r, the company announced to its agents the discontinuance Stamps withdrawn 
of the service and called in all the stamps remaining unsold. At a subsequent "^-^sued!""* 
date the stamps were re-issued and used for the business of the express com- 
pany but they were, of course, no longer government carriers' stamps. The 
ten and twenty-five cent stamps were then added to the series, but with them 
we have no concern. 

The leading collectors of the United States locals and franks have 
been consulted but they are unable to say whether or not the two dollars rose 
and four dollars green stamps were issued between July 1st and October 26th, Change in colors. 
1 861. As such a change of colors would appear to be unnecessary and con- 
fusing, the consensus of opinion is that they probably were not issued until a 
subsequent date. Pending more definite information they are not listed here. 

The garter stamps were printed in sheets (or panes) of sixteen, four 
rows of four stamps each. Copies are frequently found with a pen mark in 
red ink. This is not believed to be a cancellation but to have been applied Counterfeits of the 
to some unused remainders to destroy their franking power. So far as known, sarter sta, "i )S - 
these stamps have not been reprinted but they have been quite extensively 
counterfeited. The counterfeits differ from the genuine stamps in a number 
of minor details, such as a period instead of a comma between " wells " and 
" fargo ". The mark by which they may be readily distinguished is a hori- 
zontal dash between " ]/ 2 oz." and "$1.00". This dash is not found on the 
original stamps. We occasionally see genuine copies on which such a dash 
has been drawn with pen and ink. Probably this was done to make them 
conform to the illustrations in the catalogues, which, for many years, were 
modeled after the counterfeits. 

The pony stamps were printed in panes of twenty, five rows of four 
stamps each. Two panes constituted a sheet. 

There was a considerable quantity of remainders of most of the values, 
but, rumors to the contrary notwithstanding, there is no evidence that any 
reprints were made until about the first of April, 1897. A son of Mr. Joseph Reprints of the pony 
Britton (a member of the firm of Britton & Rey, makers of the pony express express stamps. 
stamps and many California locals), became interested in stamp collecting. 
His father wished to aid him with his collection and made search for samples 
of the firm's work in that line, but found none. He then sought for the 
stones from which the different stamps had been printed and eventually found 



242 WELLS, FARGO & CO. S PONY EXPRESS STAMPS. 

the original dies of the pony express stamps. These dies consisted of the 
complete design for the one dollar stamp, the frame for the ten cents and the 
numerals for the other values, including a "3 " which was never used. The 
design for the one dollar stamp had the value in the plural. In making up 
the stone for the originals of this value the final " s " was removed, with the 
exception of a small piece which makes a sort of period after the word. On 
many copies of the stamp traces of the outlines of the letter may be seen. 

These die designs were on a stone with a number of other small designs, 
some of which had been in frequent use. As a consequence, the designs for 
the pony express stamps had become much worn and some of the finer lines 
were nearly obliterated. In an effort to remedy this, the dies were retouched 
Because of to this wearing and retouching, the reprints may be easily distin- 
guished from the originals. Some of the principal points by which the former 
may be recognized are : The crown of the hat is almost white, instead of 
being shaded. There is no shading at the left of the nose of the horse. The 
hoof is separated from the right forefoot. The mouth of the horse is open 
nearly half way up to the eye, while in the originals the lips are only slightly 
apart. Diagonal lines have been added to the shading between the forelegs 
and under the body of the horse. At the right of the scroll containing the 
word "dollars" there are fourteen lines of shading instead of eleven. On 
the ten and twenty-five cent stamps the faint white arabesques in the upper 
corners are missing. On the two and four dollars the word of value is followed 
by a period, which does not occur on the originals. 

By transfers from the retouched dies a new stone was made up, con- 
taining twenty stamps, in five vertical rows of four. All the stamps in each 
vertical row were the same. Beginning at the right they were : 10, 25 cents, 
1, 2 and 4 dollars. From this stone impressions were taken in colors approxi- 
mating those of the original stamps. As a result, we have not only reprints 
but various combinations of colors and values of which there were no originals 
and which, therefore, are merely fancy articles. 

The paper of the reprints is moderately thin, soft and very white. 
They are clearly printed and look very fresh and new. The inks are ap- 
parently aniline. It is said that when Mr. Britton applied to Wells, Fargo 
& Co. for the loan of a set of the pony express stamps, to be used as a guide 
to colors, he was given a set of counterfeits, as they were in a more available 
shape and in approximately, the same colors as the originals. Whatever may 
have been the cause, the colors are not very well imitated. While we are 
only interested in the reprints of the three varieties which were used as car- 
riers' stamps, it may be well, for the sake of completeness, to describe all of 
them. The numbers in parenthesis indicate the number of reprints made of 
each stamp. 
Reference List. Imperforate. 

WhiteWove Paper. 
April 1897. 10 cents brownish bistre (92) 

25 cents pale vermilion (1 12), brown-carmine (132) 
25 cents dull blue (116) 
1 dollar pale vermilion (112), brown-carmine (132) 



WELLS, FARGO & CO. S PONY EXPRESS STAMPS. 243 

2 dollars gray-green (108) 

2 dollars pale vermilion (112,) brown-carmine (132) 

4 dollars full black (116) 

4 dollars gray-green (108) 

In the prints in blue and black we find that the one dollar stamp 
has the word of value in the plural. Presumably, these printings were made 
before the error in the die was noticed but, it being observed, the stone was 
corrected before the impressions in the other colors were made. 

On the whole the reprints are not very deceptive. A curious point is 
that they are very evidently lithographs, while the originals have more the 
appearance of steel engravings. 

It is satisfactory to know that the stone from which the reprints were 
made has been cleaned off and the original die has been deposited in the 
historical museum of Wells, Fargo & Co. So we need have no apprehension 
of further reprintings. 

There are a number of counterfeits of these stamps. The majority of 
them are too poor to need description. The better counterfeits differ in 
many points from the genuine stamps. The letters of "Wells, Fargo & Counterfeits of the 
Co." are too thin ; the tail of the horse is too straight and stiff ; the foot of 
the rider is too small and stands out from instead of touching the body of 
the horse. Perhaps the most notable difference is found in the edges of the 
escutcheon which contains the vignette. These edges are turned over and 
form points at the corners ; in the counterfeits the points meet at the upper 
left corner, and at the upper right corner they nearly touch, whereas, in the 
genuine stamps there is quite a space between the points at both corners. 



pony express 
stamps. 



The Franklin Carriers' Stamp. 



By referring to page 65 it will be seen that, by Act of Congress, ap- 
proved March 3rd, 185 1, the Postmaster General was authorized to prepare 
Legislation affecting postage stamps of such denominations as he considered expedient; the car- 
the carrier service. r j er - s f ee was fj xec j at one cent p er letter; and the streets, avenues, roads and 
public highways of the cities of New York, Boston, Philadelphia and New 
Orleans were established as post routes and letter carriers appointed for ser- 
vice thereon. 

This would appear to constitute the first determined effort on the part 
of the Post Office Department to take the carrier service into its own hands. 
In pursuance of this intention, and by the authority conveyed in the act men- 
tioned above, a carriers' stamp was issued on September 29th, 185 1. This 
stamp is officially described as follows: 

"One Cent Carrier Stamp. — Profile bust of Franklin, looking to 
the left, on an oval disk, with very dark ground and a distinct white border. 
Design and color. Around this disk is a tesselated frame, separated at the four corners by lathe- 
work rosettes, similar to those in the 12-cent stamp. In straight panels, at 
the top and bottom of this frame, are the words ' carriers ' and 'stamp ', 
respectively, a white star on a dark circle being at the beginning and end of 
each word. The whole is enclosed in a fine single-line rectangle. Color, 
indigo-blue, on rose-colored paper. The denomination is not shown." 
Paper. The stamps were printed on a soft paper, of moderate thickness and 

colored a dull rose. 

I have never seen an unused copy with original gum but I presume 
Gum. the stamps had the thick, smooth, brown gum which was used on the other 

stamps of the issues of 1851 and 1857. 

The stamps are imperforate and measure 19^x24^111111. 

Imperforate. 
Rose Wove Paper. 
Sept. 29th, 1851. (1 cent) bright blue, dull blue, dark dull blue 

The date of issue is taken from official records. From the same 
source we learn that the Franklin stamp was replaced by the " Eagle " car- 
Period of use. riers' stamp on November 17th, 1851. It does not appear, however, to have 
been declared obsolete, but remained available for postage. Copies on the 
original cover are scarce and the postmarks seldom have the year, but only 



THE FRANKLIN CARRIERS STAMP. 



! 45 



the month and day. The only complete date which I have seen is April 
ist, 1854. 

It is said that in the records of the Post Office department it is stated: 
" First carriers' stamps received from contractors Oct. 21, 185 r, 300,000 ". 
Here is, obviously, a mistake. Probably the date should be Sept. 2T, i 85 r . 

The reports of the Postmaster General do not supply any statistics of 
the quantities of this stamp distributed to postmasters but there appears to 
have been only the one delivery of 300,000 copies to the Post Office depart- Number of stamps 

Tr . . . . . ., . . . . issued. 

ment. It this entire quantity was distributed to postmasters it is to be 
doubted that all of the stamps were issued to the public. The scarcity of 
copies would lead us to conclude that only a limited number were used. 
Probably, on the appearance of the " Eagle " stamp, the remainders were re- 
turned to Washington and destroyed. 

There was only one plate for this stamp. It contained two panes of 
one hundred stamps (ten rows of ten stamps each), placed side by side and 
separated by a single vertical line. The imprint of the contractors appeared Plate ami imprint. 
at each side, about 3mm from the stamps. It read: " Toppan, Carpenter, 
Casilear & Co. bank note engravers. Phila. New York. Boston & Cin- 
cinnati ". The plate was not numbered. 

The sheets of reprints show the plate to have been damaged at some 
time. In the second horizontal row there is a large crack extending across 
eight stamps, four on each side of the line which divides the two panes. This Plate damaged. 
crack was probably made in heating the plate for printing. Had it occurred 
in the course of manufacture it is safe to conclude that the plate would have 
been abandoned and another made to replace it. 

It is understood that this stamp was used only in the cities of Boston, 
New Orleans, New York and Philadelphia. 

A strip of three cancelled copies has been seen. This is supposed to 
have been used instead of a three cent stamp to pay the regular postage. 

We occasionally see copies of the Franklin and " Eagle " carriers' 
stamps which are printed in brown-orange on a hard white paper, known as 
"bond" paper. In the case of the latter design these have always been con- Impressions in 
sidered to be proofs. But for the former a much more pretentious position brown-orange. 
has been claimed. I am certainly at a loss to understand why one should be 
held in any more esteem than the other, or than proofs of the two stamps 
in this same color on India paper. Nor do I see any reason for regarding 
it with more favor than proofs of other stamps of the same date on bond 
paper, for instance the five cents of the 1851 issue, in various trial colors. 

The favor in which the brown-orange Franklin stamp has been held 
can probably be ascribed to the following circumstance. In 1869, Dr. H. C. 
Yarrow, a well-known philatelist of that period, addressed some inquiries to 
the Post Office Department at Washington. In reply he received the follow- 
ing letter from W. M. Ireland, chief-clerk to the Third Assistant Postmaster 
General, (See American Journal of Philately, August 20th, 1869, page 93) : 

Post Office Department. 

Washington, August 10, 1869. 
My Dear Sir : — Yours referring to " carriers' stamp " has come to hand. The fol- 
lowing is as near a description of it as can be made : Head of Franklin, looking to left ; 



246 THE FRANKLIN CARRIERS' STAMP. 

Official letter iu frame oval geometrical lathe work ; ornamental multirayed stars at corners. The word 

reference to the '' Carriers" in straight line at top of stamp ; the word " Stamp" in straight line at lower 

brown-orange margin. A five-pointed star at each end of the words, in brackets. Color " Orange 'Brown." 

stump. Typographed in color on white paper. Shape upright rectangular. Proofs were issued 

printed in blue on pmk paper ; also in green and yellow. It was issued about Sept. 29, 

1851, but was suppressed almost immediately, owing to its great similarity to the then three 

cent stamp. Only about 300,000 were ever issued There is but one specimen, a cancelled 

one, now in possession of the Department. I regret there are none, else you should be 

supplied. The plate was, according to our best information, destroyed after the stamps 

were suppressed. 

Truly yours, 

W. M. Ireland. 

Upon this mass of misstatements has been based the claim that the 
original color of this stamp was brown-orange and that the copies in blue on 
rose-colored paper represent a second printing. 

Who has ever seen a proof of this stamp in blue on pink paper ? 

The statement as to the number that were issued is doubtless derived 
from the record of 300,000 copies delivered by the contractors. The impro- 
bability of so many stamps having been issued has already been mentioned. 

There may have been a cancelled copy of the brown-orange stamp in 
the possession of the Post Office Department at the time this letter was 
written but to-day the official collection contains nothing better than a reprint 
in blue on rose paper. 

As the plate was in existence until August, 1897, the value of the 
writer's " best information " on that point is small. 

The statement that the stamp was withdrawn on account of its resem- 
blance to the three cent stamp then in current use has been, for many years, 
accepted and repeated without question. There is certainly very little resem- 
blance between the two stamps. Had Mr. Ireland said the one cent stamp, 
the resemblance in color and design would have been more apparent. 

All of which is merely additional proof of the too frequent carelessness 
and inaccuracy of official statements. 

From the comments of the editor of the American Journal of Philately 
on the foregoing letter it is evident that he considered the impressions in 
brown-orange to be proofs in a trial color. He says : 

" We have only been able to see four of these stamps, two of which were blue on pink 

paper, and both were cancelled, we think by a number of square dots similar to the stamps of 

Kditorinl comment the French Republic. We took both of these from letters ourselves. Another was printed 

on the Franklin in orange on India paper, and was obtained by the owner direct from the P. O. Department 

stamp. at Washington. The remaining one now lies before us, and is printed in brown of the shade 

described in the letter, on similar paper to the 1851 issue U. S. stamps ; it is uncancelled. 

The plate from which this one is printed appears to be cracked, the imperfection extending 

accross the stamp on a line with the chin of Franklin." 

The copy on India paper was, of course, a proof. In a previous para- 
graph I have called attention to the crack in the plate and expressed the 
opinion that it marked a late, rather than an early, state of the plate. If my 
conclusion is correct it would prove that the impressions in brown-orange were 
not the first taken from the plate. 

In the Stamp Collector s Magazine for May, 1870, the well-known 
English collector, Mr. E. L. Pemberton, writes : 

" Recently some half dozen of the rare carrier's stamp, head of Franklin, unused, have 
appeared ; they are in dark, rather brown yellow, are ungummed, on tough thinnish paper; 
whether these are stamps as issued 1 do not know, but I have received them some time back 



THE FRANKLIN CARRIERS STAMP. 



247 



the brown-oraii^e 
stamp. 



as proofs. * * * Did the issue consist of orange-brown (or more properly brown-yellow) Opinion of Mr. 

on plain paper, and of blue on pink paper, or of the latter only, all others being proofs or jj. j,. Pemberton. 

specimens? I think the latter, because the unused brown yellow has been known for years, 

as existing in the Ph. collection, and by hearsay as described by Levrault (p. ! 1 1), heading 

Baltimore, bruti rouge sur Mane. As American proof-stamps, or, more correctly speaking, 

the great majority, have been obtainable at various times, and as the blue on pink, which 

undoubtedly exists as a bona-fide emission, has remained unknown until lately, it is more 

than probable that the only one issued for postage was the blue on pink, others being proofs 

or specimens." 

In addition to all the foregoing we might ask why, if brown-orange was 
the original color, were not the reprints made in that color ? 

The only evidence in favor of the brown-orange specimens to which 
any apparent value attaches is found in the Illustriertes Briefmarken Jour- 
nal for February 2nd, 1895, (page 44) in which a cancelled copy in this color A cancelled copy of 
is described. On communicating with the author of the article, Mr. Theo- 
dore Haas, he very kindly forwarded the stamp for examination. By a care- 
ful scrutiny of the postmark it is possible to discern the letters " ew-ork ", 
following a circular line, and below them " feb 12". The cancellation is 
in red and is evidently part of the familiar postmark which was in use in the 
city of New York in 1851 and proximate years. 

Beyond doubt, the cancellation is genuine. More than this I am 
not willing to admit. One swallow does not make a summer and one can- 
celled copy does not prove a postal issue. I have seen too many cancelled 
proofs, envelope stamps used as adhesives, fiscals used postally, unauthorized 
bi-sected stamps, and similar novelties which have passed through the mails 
by accident or favor, to place much faith in a single example of anything out 
of the usual. 

It may also be remarked that the date of the cancellation, February 
12th — it must be 1852 or later — is not sufficiently near to the date of issue to 
serve as an argument in favor of priority of the brown-orange color. 

I am not unwilling to be convinced that the brown-orange stamp is 
a postage stamp, but the arguments to that effect must be stronger than those 
which have, thus far, been advanced. Until they are forthcoming, my con- 
clusion must be that the stamp in this color is merely a proof. 

The reprints of the Franklin carriers' stamp have been described else- 
where. It does not appear to have tempted the counterfeiters. 



The Eagle Carriers' Stamp. 

As has been previously stated, the Franklin carriers' stamp was re- 
placed by one of a new design, after it had been in issue only a few weeks. 
This change was probably due to the resemblance between the carriers' stamp, 
and the one cent of the then current series. In the American Journal of 
Philately for August 20th, 1869, we find the following letter concerning the 

new stamp: 

Post Office Department. 

Finance Office. 

July 30th, 1869. 
Sir : — Your communication of the 20th instant is received. The blue stamp, " Eagle," 
was used for prepaying city lettters delivered by carriers. It was issued about Nov. 17, 1851, 
and was withdrawn January 27th, 1852. It was very little used except in Philadelphia, Pa., 
and Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Very respectfully, 

W. H. H. Terrell* 
H. C. Yarrow, Third Asst. P. M. General. 

New York. 

It is possible that by the date mentioned in this letter (January 27th, 
1S52), it had been discovered that the one cent stamp of the regular issue 
could be used for the carriers' fee as well as a special stamp, and that the 
latter was superfluous. But from the evidence of postmarks we know that 
the " Eagle " stamps continued in use for many years. Perhaps, however, 
none were issued to postmasters after the date given. 

Mr. Tiffany, in his History of the Postage Stamps of the United States, 

says: 

" As a matter of fact, however, the published reports of the Postmaster General, 
show that there were issued : 

4,777,552 from Nov., 1851 up to June, 1852 
4,370,583 " June, 1852 " " " 1853 
7,103,416 " " 1853 " " " 1854" 

I must confess that I cannot find these figures in my file of reports of 

the Postmaster General. I do find, however, in the report dated December 

1st, 1853, a note of the number of one cent stamps issued in two of these 

years as follows: 

" Fiscal year ending June 30th, 1852, 5,480,242 
" 1852, 4,736,31 1 " 

There is nothing to assist us to explain the disagreement in these fig- 
ures. We might reasonably expect the use of one cent stamps of the regular 

*By a typographical error the American Journal ef Philately gives the name of the Third Assist- 
ant Postmaster General as "W. H. H. Correll." 



THE EAGLE CARRIERS STAMP. 249 

issue to greatly exceed that of the carriers' stamps; in which case it is not 
impossible that Mr. Tiffany's figures are those for the current one cent 
stamps and that the second table covers both those stamps and the carriers '. 

The stamp is thus officially described: 

" One Cent Carrier Stamp. — Picture of an eagle on the branch of a 
tree, poised for flight, looking to the left, on an oval disk, partly filled with 
clouds and sunrays. Around this disk is a solid band, separated on the Design and color. 
right and left sides by a lined panel, and bearing above the words "u. s. p. o. 
despatch ", and below the words " pre-paid one cent ", all in white capi- 
tals. Above and below the band, and forming corners to the stamp, are 
laurel and oak leaves, oak to the left and laurel to the right. Color, indigo 
blue. This stamp, unlike all other stamps in the series, is of less height than 
width." 

The stamps were printed on hard white wove paper. The gum varied 
from yellowish to brown. The sheets were divided by vertical and hori- 
zontal lines into rectangles about 23^x19111111. 

The stamps were issued imperforate. In the Hunter collection there 
was a copy, on the original cover, which had a sort of rough pin perforation, 
probably made with a sewing machine. This perforation is interesting 
though, of course, unofficial. 

Imperforate. 

White Wove Paper. 

April 13, 1852 — Oct. 21, 1859. i cent greenish blue, blue, dull blue, dark 

dull blue, indigo 

Variety: 

Nov. 9, 1 85 1. 1 cent dark dull blue. Pin perforated 

The plate contained two panes of one hundred stamps (ten rows of 
ten stamps each), placed one above the other and separated by a space of 1 1 
mm. Through the middle of this space was drawn a thin horizontal line. Plate and imprint. 
The imprint was the same as that on the Franklin carriers' stamp and was 
placed at the bottom of each pane, about 3mm from the stamps. Most of 
the impressions do not show any plate number but a few are known which 
have " No. 1 " below the letters " en " of " engravers ", in the imprint of 
the upper pane. Until very recently it was believed that this number ap- 
peared only on the reprints but we now know that it exists on some of the 
original stamps. 

The reprints are described in the chapter devoted to that subject. 

There is only one counterfeit that is at all dangerous. It is lithograph- 
ed, while the originals are finely engraved. It differs from the genuine in Counterfeits, 
many minor details, especially the foliage around the oval. There is also a 
period instead of a hyphen, between " pre " and " paid ". This counterfeit 
is found both imperforate and perforated. 



Special Delivery Stamps. 

While the special delivery stamps are, in a sense, carriers' stamps, it 
seems best to consider them under a separate heading, for the reason that the 
ordinary rates of postage now include delivery by carrier, in all places where 
such a service is in operation, and for the additional reason that the special 
delivery stamps are intended to prepay an extra and specific service, for 
which a relatively high fee is charged. 

An Act of Congress, approved March 3rd, 1885, provided in part as 
follows: 

" Sec. 5. That a special stamp of the face valuation of ten cents may be provided and' 
issued, whenever deemed advisable or expedient, in such form and bearing such device as 
Act. authorizing the may meet the approval of the Postmaster General, which, when attached to a letter, in 
special delivery addition to the lawful postage thereon, the delivery of which is to be at any free-delivery 
stamps. office, or at any city, town, or village containing a population of four thousand and over, 

according to the Federal census, shall be regarded as entitling such letter to immediate 
delivery within the carrier limit of any free delivery office which may be designated by the 
Postmaster General as a special-delivery office, or within one mile of the post-office at any 
other office coming within the provisions of this section which may in like manner be de- 
signated as a special-delivery office. 

"Sec. 4. That such specially stamped letters shall be delivered from seven o'clock 
ante meridian up to twelve o'clock midnight at offices designated by the Postmaster General 
under section three of this Act. 

Under the authority of this Act a stamp of a special design was 
prepared and supplied to 555 post offices. It was issued to the public on 
October 1st, 1885. The design is thus officially described : 

"Ten Cent Special Delivery. A line engraving on steel, oblong 
inform; dimensions, 13-16 by 17-16 inches; color, dark blue. Design: On 
Design. the left an arched panel, bearing the figure of a mail messenger boy on a run, 

and surmounted by the words 'united states'; on the right an oblong 
tablet, ornamented with a wreath of oak and laurel surrounding the words 
'secures immediate delivery at a special delivery office'. Across 
the top of the tablet is the legend 'special postal delivery ', and at the 
bottom the words ' ten cents ', separated by a small shield bearing the 
numeral ' 10 '." 

A circular of the Post Office Department, dated August nth, 1885, 

included the following instructions to postmasters concerning the special 

delivery stamps : 

"They are to be sold by postmasters in any required amount, and to any person who 
may apply for them, but they can be used only for the purpose of securing the immediate 
delivery of letters addressed to and received in the mails at any of the offices designated as 



SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMPS. 



251 



special-delivery offices. Under no circumstances are they to be used in the payment of pos- instructions to 
tages of any description or of the registry fee, nor can any other stamps be employed to postmasters. 
secure special delivery except the special-delivery stamp. The special-delivery stamp must 
be in addition to the lawful postage, and letters not prepaid with at least one full rate of 
postage, in accordance with the law and regulations, must be treated as held for postage, 
even though bearing a special-delivery stamp. 

Registered letters will be entitled to immediate delivery, the same as ordinary letters, 
when bearing a special-delivery stamp in addition to the full postage and registry fee 
required by the law and the regulations." 

If, for any reason, the addressee of a special delivery letter cannot be 
found, the messenger returns the letter to the post office, endorses on the back Procedure in case 
the reason for non-delivery, and attaches a label bearing the following : 

NOTICE. 



of non-delivery. 



A Special Delivery Stamp affixed to any 
article of mail matter is intended only to 
secure an immediate delivery — or one offer 
of immediate delivery. If the article cannot 
for any cause be delivered when FIRST 
offered, it then becomes ordinary mail ?nat- 
ter and is thereafter treated and delivered 
accordingly. 

The special delivery service was popular and successful from the first. 
But a demand soon arose for its extension to all post offices. If it was desired 
to send a letter to a place other than one of the large cities, the sender found 
it necessary to consult a list of the special delivery offices. Such a list was 
not always at hand. Hence arose uncertainty and inconvenience, which 
tended to curtail the use of the stamp. It was felt that the service would 
only become thoroughly efficient when the privilege was extended to all post 
offices. 

There was also found to be some uncertainty as to the meaning of the 
word "letter," as used in the Act, and also as to whether it was the intention 
of Congress that "immediate delivery" should include delivery on Sunday. 
The first question was temporarily settled by holding the word to mean only 
first-class matter chargeable at letter rates of postage. The second was left 
to the further action of Congress. 

Finally, the requirement of delivery until midnight was found to be a 
hardship, since it compelled the post offices in many small towns to remain 
open long after all mails had arrived and all collections for the day had been 
made. 

The action that was taken on these various points is set forth in the 
following extract from an official circular : 

SPECIAL DELIVERY SYSTEM. 

Circular of information and instruction. 

Post Office Department, 

Office of the Postmaster General, 
• Washington, D. C, August 10, 1886. 

To all postmasters except at free delivery offices : 

By the act of August 4, 1886, the Congress has authorized the extension of this system 
to all post offices and to all mailable matter. That act is as follows, viz : 

" That every article of mailable matter upon which the special stamp provided for by 



Official circular and 
regulations. 



252 SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMPS. 

section three of the act of Congress approved March third, eighteen hundred and eighty-five 
entitled ' An act making appropriations for the service of the Post-Offke Department for the 
fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and eighty-six, and for other purposes, 
shall be duly affixed, shall he entitled to immediate delivery, according to said act, within the 
carrier-delivery limit of any free-delivery office, and within one mile of any other post office 
which the Postmaster-General shall at any time designate as a special-delivery post office. 
The postmaster shall be responsible for such immediate delivery of every such article, and 
shall cause delivery to be made of ail such articles received at his office bearing such stamp 
and entitled to delivery thereat, and may employ any persons, including clerks and assistants 
at third and fourth class offices, as messengers, on such terms as he shall fix as compensation 
for such delivery ; and to defray the expense thereof, such postmaster shall be entitled, upon 
the adjustment of his quarterly account, to eighty per centum of the face value of all such 
special-delivery stamps received at his office and recorded, according to said act and the regula- 
tions of the Post-Office Department, during the quarter ; and such allowance shall he in full 
of all the expenses of such delivery : "Provided, That the Postmaster General may, in his dis- 
cretion, direct any free-delivery office to be excepted from the foregoing provision, and re- 
quire the delivery to be made entirely by special messengers, according to the provisions of 
the act to which this is amendatory : fjlnd provided further, That he may contract for the 
immediate delivery of all articles from any post office, at any price less than eight cents per 
piece, when he shall deem it expedient. * * * 
The following orders and regulations are prescribed under the foregoing acts : 

1 Every post office in the United States and Territories and the District of Columbia 
now established, and which shall be established while the foregoing acts remain, is hereby 
designated as a special-delivery office, and will be governed by said acts and the orders and 
regulations thereunder. 

2. These regulations shall take effect and be in force on and after October 1, 1886. 

3 On and after said last-named date every postmaster will be held responsible for the 
immediate delivery, according to said acts and these regulations, of every article of mailable 
matter which may be received addressed to his office, properly stamped with a special- 
delivery stamp. 

4. Such immediate delivery must be made when the article is directed to an addressee 
residing or having a place of business within one mile of the post office. The obligation to so 
deliver does not extend to an addressee beyond that distance, but the postmaster will be at 
liberty to make such delivery beyond such limits, and to receive the compensation therefor as 
in any other case. It is commended to him as a proper and considerate thing to be done, in 
accomodation of the sender, whenever it is reasonably convenient. 

5. The hours within which immediate delivery shall be made shall be at least from 
7 a. m. to 7 p. m., and further until the arrival of the last mail, provided that such arrival 
be not later than 9 p. m. This requirement as to the hours of delivery does not necessarily 
extend to the transaction of any other postal business after the usual office hours. Special 
otders for later delivery may be made for first-class offices. 

Postmasters are not required to make delivery of special-delivery matter on Sunday, 
nor to keep their offices open in any different manner on that day from what is now provided 
by regulation. Postmasters will be at liberty, however, to deliver special-delivery letters and 
parcels arriving on Sundays. * * 

No change will be made in the general style of the special delivery stamp now in use. 

The words " Secures immediate delivery at a special-delivery office " will, however, be 
changed to read, ''Secures immediate delivery at any post-office " But, as stamps with the 
former words are now in the hands of postmasters and the public, their use will be continued 
until the present supply shall be exhausted 

Similar instructions to postmasters at free-delivery offices fixed the 
hours for the delivery of letters bearing the special delivery stamps at from 
7 a. m. to 1 1 p. m., unless otherwise ordered by the Postmaster General. 

The stock of stamps of the first design was sufficient to last until Sep- 
tember 6th, 1888, when those with the new wording were issued to post- 
masters. In philatelic publications their appearance is first noted in the 
Philatelic Record for December, 1888. 

In 1893 the Columbian stamps were issued. These stamps were of 
about the same dimensions as the special delivery stamp, and one denomina- 
ciiaut-'e of color, tion, the one cent, was of the same color. This caused some confusion and 
gave rise to mistakes in the payment of postage and the treatment of letters 
bearing the stamps. It was accordingly decided to change the color of the 
special delivery stamp. 



SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMPS. 253 

The report of the Third Assistant Postmaster General for 1894, says : 

" Its color was changed from blue to orange, January 24, 1893, and so continued to 
January 5, 1894, when printing in blue was resumed. The issue of the orange-colored 
stamp was not discontinued until the 19th of May, 1894, when the stock on hand at the 
manufactory was exhausted. 

In all there were 5,099,500 stamps of the orange color sent to postmasters." 

The stamp of the new color was reported in use as early as January 
28th, 1893. 

In 1894 the contract for the manufacture of postage stamps passed 
from the American Bank Note Company to the Bureau of Engraving and 
Printing at Washington. The new contractors placed marks on all the or- Changes in the 
dinary postage stamps, in order that their work might be distinguished from 
that of their predecessors. The changes made in the special delivery stamp 
were the addition of small ornamental dashes under the words " ten " and 
"cents", the drawing of lines of shading across the face of the numeral 
" 10", and a deepening of the lines denning the edge of the bevel of the 
background panel. 

The stamps of this type were issued on ordinary paper on October 10th, 
1894. On August 16th, 1895, they appeared on paper watermarked with the 
letters " u s p s " 

On the sheets of special delivery stamps printed by the Bureau of 
Engraving and Printing we find groups of letters in the margin at the upper piatemen's initials, 
left corner. An explanation of these letters is given in the following extract 
from the American Philatelist for 1886, (page 10): 

" A rule of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing requires that, each time a plate of 
stamps is printed from, the plateman must cut his initials on the margin of the plate, so that, 
should any irregularity occur, the responsibility may be more easily traced." 

This note refers to revenue stamps. Why the rule has been applied 
to special delivery stamps and not to other varieties of postage stamps I am 
unable to explain. 

The stamps measure 36^x21 mm. 

The papers used for the various issues were : first, the thick, soft, 
porous paper employed by the American Bank Note Company ; next, a Paper. 

similar paper used by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing ; and lastly, the 
watermarked paper mentioned just above. 

The gum used by the first contractors varied from pure white to brown. Gum. 

That employed by the present manufacturers is either white or yellowish. 

The following shades and varieties are to be found : 

Printed by the American Bank Note Co. 

Perforated 12. Reference List. 

Thick Soft Porous Wove Paper. 

Oct. 1st 1885. 10 cents (" Special Delivery Office") light blue, blue, deep 

blue 
Sept. 6th, 1888. ro cents (" Any Post Office ") light blue, blue, deep blue 
Jan. 24th, 1893. 10 cents ("Any Post Office") yellow-orange, orange, deep 

orange 



254 special delivery stamps. 

Printed by the Bureau of Engraving & Printing. 

Perforated i 2. 

Thick Soft Porous Wove Paper. 

Oct. 10th, 1894. 10 cents ("Any Post Office") blue, dark blue, marine blue 

Watermarked " U. S. P. S." 

Aug. 16th, 1895. 10 cents ("Any Post Office") blue, dark blue, marine blue 

Variety : 

10 cents dark blue. Imperforate 

The plates each contain one hundred stamps, arranged in ten rows of 
ten. Usually the sheets are divided vertically into half sheets of fifty stamps 
Plates. This seems to have been the rule with all of the blue stamps but those printed 

in orange were often, if not always, issued in full sheets of one hundred 
The imprint is placed at the middle of the top and bottom of each half sheet 
The plate number appears between each imprint and the central dividing 
line. The imprint of the American Bank Note Co. is as usual, merely the 
name of the company in small, heavy-faced, shaded capitals. The imprint 
of the other contractors is " bureau, engraving & printing ", in white 
Roman capitals, on a colored panel having truncated corners and surrounded 
by a thin colored line. At each end of the panel is a large three branched 
ornament. 

The following numbers are found on the plates of the special delivery 
stamps : 

American Bank Note Co. 

Plates of 1885-88. 

10 cents blue ("Special Delivery Office") (too) No. 495, 496. 
10 cents blue (" Any Post Office ") (100) No. 552. 
10 cents orange ("Any Post Office") (100) No. 552. 

Plates of 1890-93. 

10 cents blue ("Any Post Office ") (100) No 73. 
10 cents orange ("Any Post Office ") (100) No. 73. 

Bureau, Engraving & Printing. 

Plate numbers. Plates of 1894-95. 

Unwatermarked 
10 cents blue ("Any Post Office") (100) No. 77. 

Watermarked " U. S. P. S." 
10 cents blue (" Any Post Office ") (100) No. 77, 257, 381, 492, 

880, 881, 882, 883. 
A plate, numbered 682, was made but, being defective, it has never 
been put to press. The imperforate stamps are from plate No. 257. 

The annual reports of the Postmaster General supply the following 
statistics of the quantities of stamps delivered to deputy postmasters : 



SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMPS. 



= 55 



Quarter Ending : 



Fiscal year 

1885-86 

1886-87 

1887-88 

1888-89 

1889-90 

1890-91 

1891-92 

1892-93 

1893-94 

1894-95 

1895-96 

1896-97 

1897-98 

1898-99 

1899-1900 



Sept. 30. 
2,074,320 
215,880 

3 2 9»97o 
347,36o 

7'9,i3° 

59 6 >5 10 

660,100 

720,670 

1,020,610 

9°5,3°° 

1,059,63° 

1,025,720 

1,277,880 

1,425,7'° 
1,828,070 



Dec. 31, 
1,265,750 
492,050 

393, 8l ° 
*5 2 1,940 

359> 6l ° 
680,750 

764,530 
886,090 
862,990 

i,°53,3 8 ° 
1,187,490 

1,095,63° 
1,349,660 
1,570,100 
1,646,880 



Mch. 31. 

241,990 

254,980 

31 1,670 

302,440 

526,810 

641,550 

783,79° 

1,032,090 

806,560 

954,820 

1,104,420 

1,046,610 

i,354,9 10 
1,447,810 
1,846,440 



June 30. 
117,500 
283,030 
296,340 

t403,9 10 

5 T 5,34° 

650,540 

908,800 

889,220 

983,860 

995,280 

i,'i4,73° 

1,178,370 

1,182,280 

i,49 I >35° 
1,619,260 



Total. 
3,699,560 
i, 2 45,94° 
i,33i,79o 
i,575,65o 
2,120,890 

2,569,35° 
3,117,220 
3,528,070 
3,674,020 
3,908,780 
4,466,270 

4,346,330 
5,^64,730 
5,934,97o 
6,940,650 



Deliveries to 
postmasters. 



Whole number of stamps 53,624,220. Value $5,362,422.00. 
*6oo of these are "specimens." 
fi 11,900 of these are "specimens." 

It is understood that the 600 stamps were surcharged with the word 
" specimen " in red and sent to the Universal Postal Union. The second 
and larger lot of "specimens " were probably proofs. 

The deliveries in the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1895, are made up 
of 1,004,980 stamps printed by the American Bank Note Co. and 2,903,800 
stamps printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. In the latter 
number are included 750 copies which were sent to the Universal Postal 
Union. 

In 1898 the tri-ennial congress of the Universal Postal Union con- 
vened in Washington and, at that time, 125 sets of all the stamps in current 
use, including the special delivery stamp, were surcharged " universal — 
postal — congress " and presented to the attending delegates. In the same 
year 150 copies of the special delivery stamp were supplied "for the Post- 
office album." 

The deliveries for 1900 include 50 copies which were furnished to the 
Third Assistant Postmaster General for exchanging and similar purposes. 
These and the 150 copies mentioned in the preceding paragraph were hand- 
stamped " Specimen " in black or magenta. 

During the last three years 126,850 special delivery stamps have been 
overprinted for use in Guam and the Philippine Islands but, as they were 
taken from the reserve stock of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and 
not from the supplies of the Post Office Department, the statistics are not 
affected. 

The Postal Guide for 1898 says that 3,596,500 of the stamps supplied 
by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing were on unwatermarked paper. 



" Specimen " 
stamps and proofs. 



Stamps surcharged 

" Universal Postal 

Congress ". 



Stamps surcharged 
for Guam and the 
Philippine Islands. 



Official Stamps. 



Issue of 1873. 

The use of stamps by the different departments of the Government 
was decreed by Act of Congress, approved March 3rd, 1873. The stamps 
Historical. were prepared by order of the Postmaster General, and their issue, on requisi- 
tions of the various departments, was commenced on May 24th, 1873. The 
stamps went into use on July 1st of that year. Their purpose was to abolish 
the much-abused franking privilege, to show exactly the amount of work 
performed for the other branches of the Government by the Post Office de- 
partment and reduce the large annual deficit of that department. 

The following extract, on the subject of the franking privilege, is taken 
from the American Journal of Philately for 1873 (P a 8 e io 9) : 

" The second Congress of the United States met in Philadelphia on the 24th of October, 
1 791. George Washington was President, John Adams was Vice-President and Jonathan 
Fnmkin£. Trumbull was Speaker of the House of Representatives. The first act passed by this body 

related to ' certain fisheries of the United States,' and the second was an act to establish the 
post office and post roads within the United States. This act contained thirty sections and 
was approved February 20th, 1792. Among other things it provided : 

' That the following letters and packets, and no other, shall be received and conveyed 
by post free of postage, under such restrictions as are hereinafter provided ; that is to say : 
All letters and packets to or from the President or Vice-President of the United States, and all 
letters and packets, not exceeding two ounces in weight, to or from any member of the 
Senate or House of Representatives, the Secretary of the Senate, or Clerk of the House of 
Representatives, during their actual attendance in any session of Congress, and twenty days 
after such session. All letters to and from the Secretary of the Treasury and his assistant, 
Comptroller, Register, and Auditor of the Treasury, the Treasurer, the Secretary of State, 
the Secretary of War, the commissioners for settling the accounts between the United 
States and individual states, the Postmaster General and his assistant ; Provided, That no 
person shall frank or enclose any letter or packet, other than his own ; but any public letter 
from the department of the Treasury may be franked by the Secretary of the Treasury, or 
the Assistant Secretary, or by the Comptroller, Register, Auditor, or Treasurer ; and that 
each person before named shall deliver to the post office every letter or packet enclosed to 
him, which may be directed to any other person, noting the place from whence it came by 
post, and the usual postage shall be charged thereon.' 

This law was altered every few years, and each time large numbers of public officials 
were added to the free list, till at last the loads of unpaid mail matter so embarrassed the 
post office revenue that strenuous exertions were made to do away with the whole system, 
which were happily crowned with success last winter." 

The report of the Postmaster General for 1869 stated that no less than 
31,933 persons were authorized to employ the franking privilege and estimated 
the annual expense to the Post Office Department for transporting free mail 
matter to be $5,000,000 

There appeared to be but one remedy for this abuse, to abolish the 



OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF I 873. 



257 



Official stamps 

and envelopes 

authorized. 



franking privilege and to provide, by means of appropriations, for the pay- 
ment of postage on all matter sent through the mails by the various depart- 
ments. 

An Act of Congress, intended to effect this reform, was approved 
January 27th, 1873, and provided : 

" That the franking privilege be hereby abolished from and after the first day of July, 
Ano Domini 1873, and that henceforth all official correspondence of whatever nature, and 
other mailable matter sent from or addressed to any officer of the Government or person now The franking 
authorized to frank such matter, shall be chargeable with the same rates of postage as may privilege abolished. 
be lawfully imposed upon like matter sent by or addressed to other persons Provided, that 
no compensation or allowance shall be now or hereafter made to Senators or Members and 
Delegates of the House of Representatives on account of postages." 

An Act of Congress, approved March 3rd, 1873, appropriated a sum of 

money, which was estimated to be sufficient for the purchase of postage 

stamps for the use of the various departments. Section 4 of this Act also 

provided : 

" That the Postmaster General shall cause to be prepared a special slamp or stamped 
envelope, to be used only for official mail matter for each of the executive departments, and 
said stamps and stamped envelopes shall be supplied by a proper officer of said departments 
to all persons under its direction requiring the same for official use, and all appropriations 
for postage heretofore made shall no longer be available for said purpose, and all said stamps 
and stamped envelopes shall be sold or furnished to said several departments or clerks only 
at the price for which stamps and stamped envelopes of like value are sold at the several 
post offices." 

The report of the Postmaster General, dated November 14th, 1873, 

expresses satisfaction with the results of the new law, as far as they were then 

apparent, i.e., for the first quarter of the fiscal year beginning July 1st, 1873 

The report supplies a memorandum of the quantities of stamps issued in that 

quarter, saying : 

" Section 4 of the Act of March 3, 1873, making it the duty of the Postmaster General 
to provide official stamps and stamped envelopes for the several Executive Departments, has 
been strictly complied with. The stamps and envelopes furnished have been executed in 
the highest style of art, and will compare favorably with those of any other country. From 
July 1st to September 30th of the current year, the following varieties, numbers, and values 
were issued : 

Number of Number of 

To whom issued. Denominations. stamps. Value. 

The Executive 5 5> I 5° $200.00 

The State Department 14 60,495 20,749.70 

The Treasury Department 11 7,842,500 407000.00 

The War Department 11 446500 17,68900 

The Navy Department 11 247,230 12,23900 

The Post Office Department 10 10,054,660 354,535x0 

The Interior Department 10 1,058,475 59,171.00 

The Department of Justice 10 65,400 3,900 00 

The Department of Agriculture 9 275,000 20,73000 

Making a total 91 20,055,410 896,213.70 

It cannot be expected that the sales of official stamps will average throughout the year 
the extraordinary sums above given for the first quarter. A general supply having been 
obtained, subsequent orders will be made only for the actual consumption." 

From the report of the Third Assistant Postmaster General, dated 
November 1st, 1878, we learn that a large portion of the stamps mentioned 
in the foregoing table were issued in advance of the date on which the law stamps issued before 
became operative, though they were not debited to the various departments July lst ' ] "' 
until the first quarter of the fiscal year beginning July 1st, 1873, since, pre- 
vious to that date, the appropriations for the purchase of the stamps were not 



Deliveries during 

the first quarter 

year. 



258 OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF I 873. 

available. The following quantities were issued between May 24th and 
July ist, 1873 : 

The Executive 4,650 

State Department 60,495 

Treasury Department 6,317,500 

War Department 440,500 

Navy Department 160,830 

Post Office Department 5,510,610 

Interior Department 970,475 

Department of Justice 65,400 

Department of Agriculture 135,000 



Total stamps 13,665,460 

Total value $494,974.70 

The report of the Postmaster General for 1873 also gives the following 
brief description of the designs and colors of the official stamps : 

" The stamps for the Departments, other than the Post Office, do not differ materially 

from those for sale to the public, except that each Department has its own distinctive color 

Official description, and legend. The colors are : For the Executive, carmine ; State Department, green ; 

Treasury, velvet brown ; War, cochineal-red ; Navy, blue ; Post Office, black ; Interior, 

vermilion ; Department of Justice, purple ; and Department of Agriculture, straw color. 

In the stamps for the Post Office Department the medallion head gives place to a 
numeral representing the value, with the words 'post office department' above and the 
denomination expressed in words below. All the official stamps correspond in denominations 
with those issued for the public, except in the case of the State Department, for which four 
of higher value were made for dispatch bags. These four are of the denominations of $2 
$5, $10 and $20, respectively, are of larger size and printed in two colors, and bear a pro- 
file bust of the late Secretary Seward." 

A circular of the Post Office Department, dated May 15th, 1873, ca ^ s 

the attention of postmasters to the repeal of the franking privilege and to the 

Official circular, fact that special stamps and envelopes have been provided for the use of 

the several departments. The designs and colors are described in language 

similar to that just quoted from the report of the Postmaster General. The 

circular concludes : 

" Postmasters at all offices will be furnished with the official stamps of this Department, 
in suitable denominations and amounts, as far as they can be supplied. The Department 
will exercise its own discretion in filling requisitions, and will send only in such denomina- 
tions and amounts as the needs of an office may seem to require. The less important offices, 
say those at which the money order system has not been established, will need only three 
cent stamps, but comparatively few offices will require stamps above the denomination of 
six cents. The higher denominations will be supplied to a few of the larger offices only. 
Postmasters will combine stamps of the most convenient denominations at hand to meet 
emergencies for which they may have no single stamp exactly filling the rate required." 

As was said in a previous paragraph, the stamps for the various depart- 
ments were, with the exception of those for the Post Office Department, not 
Designs. unlike the same values of the general issue which was then current. The 

series of finely engraved profile busts, which distinguishes the issues of 1870- 
73, was retained. The numerals and words of value in the lower part of the 
stamps were arranged in much the same way as on the corresponding stamps 
of the regular issue. The features which, aside from the color, distinguish 
the set for each particular department are most prominent in the upper part 
of the stamps, replacing the words " u. s. postage". The additions to the 
lower part are usually of less importance. The devices used may be briefly 
described as follows ; 



OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1873. 259 

Department of Agriculture. A panel, curved above the central 
oval, bears the word " agriculture ". In the upper left corner are " dept. 
of " and in the upper right corner the letters " u. s." entwined. 

The Executive. A panel, curved above the oval, bears the word 
" executive ". In the upper corners are respectively " u " and " s ", in small 
circles, surrounded by arabesques. The background is filled with vertical 
stripes, alternately light and dark, representing the bars on the national shield. 

Department of the Interior. A broad ribbon, arched above the 
portrait, is inscribed "dept. of the interior". In the upper corners are 
six-pointed stars and, at right and left in the lower part of the stamps, small 
shields bearing the letters " u " and " s ". On the i, 2, 3, 6, 10 and 30 cent 
stamps these shields are placed above the ends of the ribbons bearing the 
value, and on the other four denominations they are in the lower corners. 

Department of Justice. The word " justice " is curved above the 
central oval, with "dept." in the upper left and "of" in the upper right 
corner. Six-pointed stars, bearing the letters " u " and " s ", occupy the same 
positions as the small shields on the stamps of the Department of the Interior 

Navy Department. The words " navy " and "dept." are inscribed 
diagonally across the upper corners. There is a large star in each upper 
corner and a smaller one at the middle of each side. The top and sides of 
the stamps are bordered by a cable. The letters "u" and " s ", in small 
hexagons, are placed as were the same letters on the stamps of the Departments 
of the Interior and Justice. 

Department of State. Above the medallion is arched, " dept. of 
state " with foliated ornaments below each end. Large letters " u " and 
" s ", somewhat distorted, occupy the same positions as on the stamps of the 
three departments just described. To this set are added four new values, 2, 
5, 10 and 20 dollars. These stamps are about twice the size of the lower 
values and are alike in design. A large portrait of Wm. H. Seward, printed 
in black, occupies the central oval, at each side of which are fasces. Above 
the oval appears, in two lines of large shaded captials, " department of 
state." Small arabesques fill the upper corners. The value, in large white 
captials, occupies a straight tablet across the bottom, above each end of which 
are the letters " u. s. of a." In the case of the 20 dollars the word " dollars " 
is abbreviated to " dolls." 

Treasury Department. The word "treasury", in a wavy line, 
crosses the top of the stamps Below it, at left and right respectively, are 
" u. s." and " dept." Drapery with fringes and cords ornaments the sides. 

War Department. The letters "u" and "s" occupy the upper 
corners and the words "war" and "dept." are curved beneath them. 
Elongated national shields appear in the lower part of the stamps and 
shadings to represent the folds of the flag at the sides. 

Post Office Department. For this department a special design 
was adopted. Large numerals, with " official " above and " stamp " below, 
occupy a colorless central oval, above which is curved " post office dept." 



260 OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1873. 

The upper spandrels are blank except for a small round boss. The words 
and numerals of value are arranged as on the sets for the other departments. 
The letters "u" and " s ", in small circles, appear above the ends of the 
ribbons bearing the value on the i, 2, 3, 6, 10 and 30 cents, at each side of the 
value on the 24 cents, and in the lower corners on the 1?, 15 and 90 cents. 

The stamps are of two sizes, viz : 1 to 90 cents, 20x25 Qim. ; 2 to 2 ° 
dollars, 25^x39^ mm. 

Mr. E. D. Bacon has called my attention to an interesting feature of 
the four higher denominations of the Department of State, which has, hitherto, 
Varieties of the been overlooked by philatelists. On comparing several copies of any of these 
D S "tneiit^f °State* stam P s ) it will be found that they differ slightly one from another. This 
difference lies in the spacing between the tablet bearing the value and the 
ornaments adjacent to its upper corners. The variations in position are 
slight but distinct. The explanation of these variations is simple. There 
was only one die for the borders of the four stamps and it did not include 
the tablet at the bottom. In making a plate for any of these four denomina- 
tions, the border was transferred first and then the label of value was added 
to each transfer. Slight differences would naturally result from this pro- 
cess. Some of the ornaments also show traces of retouching. By means of 
these variations it would be possible to " plate " these stamps, should one be 
inclined to attempt it. 

At the time the official stamps came into use the contract for the 
manufacture of postage stamps was held by the Continental Bank Note Co. 
Paper. Subsequently, through consolidation and new contracts, the work passed into 

the hands of the American Bank Note Co. We may, therefore, expect to 
find the official stamps on the characteristic papers of the two companies, i.e. 
thin hard, ribbed and double papers for the former and soft porous paper 
for the latter. When we examine the stamps we find these anticipations are 
confirmed. The gum is the same as that used for the regular issues at cor- 
responding dates. 

ucfereuce List. Perforated 12. 

Hard White Wove Paper. 

Department of Agriculture. 

May 24th, 1873. 1 cent golden yellow, deep golden yellow, olive-yellow, 

pale orange-yellow 

2 cents golden yellow, deep golden yellow, olive-yellow 

3 cents golden yellow, deep golden yellow, olive-yel- 

low, pale orange-yellow 
6 cents golden yellow, deep golden yellow, olive-yel- 
low, pale orange-yellow 

10 cents golden yellow, deep golden yellow, olive-yel- 
low 

12 cents golden yellow, deep golden yellow, olive-yel- 
low, pale orange-yellow 

15 cents golden yellow, deep golden yellow, olive-yel- 
low, pale bright yellow 



OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1873. 26 1 

24 cents golden yellow, deep golden yellow, olive-yel- 
low, pale orange-yellow 

30 cents golden yellow, deep golden yellow, olive-yel- 
low 

Variety: 

3 cents golden yellow. Imperforate. 

The Executive. 

May 24th, 1873. 1 cent carmine, deep carmine 

2 cents carmine, deep carmine 

3 cents carmine, deep carmine, violet-rose 

6 cents pale carmine, carmine, deep carmine 
10 cents pale carmine, carmine, deep carmine 

Department of the Interior. 

May 24th, 1873. 1 cent rose-vermilion, scarlet vermilion 

2 cents rose-vermilion, scarlet-vermilion 

3 cents rose-vermilion, scarlet-vermilion 
6 cents rose vermilion, scarlet-vermilion 

10 cents rose vermilion, scarlet-vermilion 
12 cents rose-vermilion, scarlet- vermilion 
15 cents rose-vermilion, scarlet-vermilion 
24 cents rose-vermilion, scarlet-vermilion 
30 cents rose-vermilion, scarlet-vermilion 
90 cents rose vermilion, scarlet vermilion 

Department of Justice. 

May 24th, 1873. 1 cent purple, red-purple 

2 cents purple, light purple 

3 cents purple, red-purple, bluish purple 

6 cents purple, red purple, bluish purple, light purple 
10 cents purple, bluish purple 
12 cents purple 
15 cents purple 
24 cents purple 
30 cents purple 
90 cents purple 

Navy Department. 

May 24th, 1873. l cent dull blue, dark blue, gray-blue, ultramarine, 

dark ultramarine, bright ultramarine 

2 cents dull blue, dark blue, gray-blue, ultramarine, 

bright ultramarine 

3 cents dull blue, dark blue, gray-blue, pale ultra- 

marine, ultramarine, bright ultramarine 
6 cents dull blue, dark blue, gray-blue, pale ultrama- 
tine, ultramarine, bright ultramarine 



262 



OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1873. 



May 24th, 1873. 



7 cents dull blue, dark blue, gray-blue, ultramarine, 
bright ultramarine 

10 cents dull blue, dark blue, gray-blue, dark ultra- 
marine, bright ultramarine 

1 2 cents dull blue, dark blue, ultramarine, bright ultra- 
marine 

15 cents dull blue, dark blue, gray-blue, pale ultrama- 
rine, ultramarine, bright ultramarine 

24 cents dull blue, dark blue, gray-blue, ultramarine, 
bright ultramarine 

30 cents dull blue, dark blue, dark ultramarine, bright 
ultramarine 

90 cents dull blue, dark blue, ultramarine, dark ultra- 
marine, bright ultramarine 

Variety: 

2 cents deep green, deep yellow-green. Error of 
color 

Post Office Department. 

1 cent black, gray black 

2 cents black, gray-black 

3 cents black, gray-black 
6 cents black, gray-black 

10 cents black, gray-black 
12 cents black, gray-black 
15 cents black, gray-black 
24 cents black, gray-black 
30 cents black, gray-black 
90 cents black, gray-black 



Varieties: 

1 cent gray-black. 

2 cents gray-black 

3 cents gray-black 
6 cents gray-black 

10 cents gray-black 
12 cents gray-black 
15 cents gray-black 
24 cents gray-black 
30 cents gray-black 
90 cents gray-black 
6 cents gray-black, 
cents 



Paper with gray surface 



Diagonal half used as three 



May 24th, 1873. 



Department of State. 

1 cent dark yellow-green, dark blue-green, dark gray- 
green 



OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1873. 263 

2 cents dark yellow-green, dark blue-green, dark gray- 

green 

3 cents dark yellow-green, dark blue-green, bright blue- 

green, deep grass green 

6 cents dark yellow-green, dark blue-green, bright blue- 

green 

7 cents dark yellow-green, dark blue-green, bright blue- 

green 
10 cents dark yellow-green, dark blue-green, bright blue- 
green 
1 2 cents dark yellow-green, dark blue-green, bright blue- 
green 
15 cents dark yellow-green, dark blue-green, bright blue- 
green 
24 cents dark yellow-green, dark blue-green 
30 cents dark yellow-green, dark blue-green 
90 cents dark yellow-green, dark blue-green 
2 dollars green and black, bluish green and black 

5 dollars green and black, bluish green and black 
10 dollars green and black, bluish green and black 
20 dollars green and black, bluish green and black 

Treasury Department. 

May 24th, 1873. 1 cent pale yellow-brown, yellow-brown, brown, dark 

brown 

2 cents pale yellow-brown, yellow-brown, brown, dark 

brown 

3 cents pale yellow-brown, yellow-brown, brown, dark 

brown, red-brown 

6 cents pale yellow-brown, yellow-brown, brown, dark 

brown, gray-brown 

7 cents pale yellow-brown, yellow-brown, brown, dark 

brown 
10 cents pale yellow-brown, yellow-brown, brown, dark 

brown 
12 cents pale yellow-brown, yellow-brown, brown, dark 

brown, red-brown 
1 5 cents pale yellow-brown, yellow-brown, brown, dark 

brown 
24 cents pale yellow-brown, yellow-brown, brown, dark 

brown 
30 cents pale yellow-brown, yellow-brown, brown, dark 

brown, red-brown 
90 cents pale yellow-brown, yellow-brown, brown, dark 

brown 



264 official stamps. issue of 1 873. 

War Department. 

May 24th, 1873. 1 cent pale rose red, rose-red, dull rose-red, pale 

brown-rose, brown-rose, dull lake 

2 cents pale rose red, dull rose-red, pale brown-rose, 

brown-rose, deep brown-rose 

3 cents pale rose-red, rose-red, dull rose-red, pale 

brown-rose, brown-rose, lilac-rose 

6 cents pale rose-red, rose-red, dull rose-red, pale 

brown-rose, brown-rose 

7 cents pale rose-red, rose-red, dull rose-red, pale 

brown-rose, brown-rose, deep brown-rose 
10 cents pale rose-red, rose-red, dull rose-red, pale 

brown-rose, brown-rose 
1 2 cents pale rose-red, dull rose-red, pale brown-rose, 

brown-rose 
15 cents pale rose-red, rose-red, dull rose-red, pale 

brown-rose, brown-rose, deep brown-rose 
24 cents pale rose-red, dull rose-red, pale brown-rose, 

brown-rose 
30 cents pale rose-red, rose-red, dull rose-red, pale 

brown-rose, brown-rose, deep brown-rose 
90 cents pale rose-red, rose-red, dull rose-red, pale 

brown-rose, brown-rose 

Horizontally or Vertically Ribbed Paper. 

Department of Agriculture. 

1873-76. 1 cent deep golden yellow 

2 cents deep golden yellow 

3 cents deep golden yellow 
6 cents deep golden yellow 

10 cents deep golden yellow, olive-yellow 

r2 cents deep golden yellow 

15 cents deep golden yellow 

24 cents deep golden yellow, olive-yellow 

30 cents deep golden yellow, olive-yellow 

The Executive. 

1873-76. 1 cent carmine 

2 cents carmine 

3 cents carmine 
6 cents carmine 

10 cents carmine 

Department of the Interior. 
'873-76. 1 cent scarlet-vermilion 



OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1873. 



265 



187376. 
1873-76. 



1873-76. 



1873-76. 



Department of Justice. 
1 cent purple 

Navy Department. 

1 cent dull blue, dark blue 

2 cents dull blue 

3 cents dull blue 

6 cents dull blue 

7 cents dull blue 
10 cents dull blue 
1 2 cents dull blue 
15 cents dull blue, dark blue 
24 cents ultramarine 
30 cents dull blue 
90 cents dull blue, ultramarine 

Post Office Department. 

1 cent gray-black 

2 cents gray-black 

3 cents gray-black 
6 cents gray-black 

10 cents gray-black 
12 cents gray-black 
15 cents gray-black 
24 cents gray- black 
30 cents gray-black 
90 cents gray-black 

Varieties: 

3 cents gray-black. Paper with gray surface 

6 cents gray-black 
10 cents gray-black 
12 cents gray-black 
24 cents gray-black 
30 cents gray-black 
90 cents gray-black 

Department of State. 

1 cent dark yellow-green 

2 cents dark yellow-green, dark blue-green, dark gray- 

green 

3 cents dark yellow-green 

6 cents dark yellow-green 

7 cents dark yellow-green 
10 cents dark yellow-green 
12 cents dark yellow-green 
15 cents dark yellow-green 



266 OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1873. 

24 cents dark yellow-green 

30 cents dark yellow-green, dark blue-green 

90 cents dark yellow-green, dark blue-green 

Treasury Department. 

1873-76. 1 cent dark brown 

2 cents dark brown, yellow-brown 

3 cents dark brown 

6 cents dark brown, brown 

7 cents dark brown 
10 cents dark brown 
12 cents dark brown 
15 cents dark brown 
30 cents dark brown 
90 cents dark brown 

War Department. 

1873-76. 1 cent pale rose-red, pale brown-rose, deep brown-rose 

2 cents pale rose-red, dark rose-red 

3 cents brown-rose, deep brown-rose 

6 cents pale rose-red 

7 cents pale brown-rose 

10 cents bright rose-red, brown-rose 
12 cents dark rose-red, brown-rose 
15 cents pale rose-red, dark rose-red 
24 cents pale rose-red 
30 cents bright rose-red 
90 cents dark rose-red 

Double Paper. 

Post Office Department. 

1876. 3 cents gray-black 

24 cents gray-black 
90 cents gray-black 

Department of State. 

1876. 3 cents blue-green 

Treasury Department. 

1876. 3 cents dark yellow-brown 

10 cents dark yellow-brown 
90 cents dark yellow-brown 

The two cent stamp of the Navy Department printed in green, the 

color of the stamps of the Department of State, has been the subject of much 

Navy Department, discussion among philatelists. Opinions have differed as to it being a genu- 

two cents green, ine error or only a proof for color. The firm who first discovered it and 

placed it on the market purchased their copies, together with a quantity of 



OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1873. 2 ^7 

other United States stamps, from a man who was evidently not a philatelist, 
and was therefore free from any suspicion of wishing to bring forward new 
varieties, and who stated that he found the stamps in an old trunk. The 
purchasers of this lot have always believed the stamp to be a genuine error. 
I copy the following from a letter of Mr. C. F. Rothfuchs: 

" I would now like to say a few words about the two cents Navy in green. Some years 
ago I received five copies, a strip of three and a pair. They had the original gum on the back 
They were kept by gentleman (not a collector) who was a clerk in the State Department 
when they were received at that department. This gentleman has a nephew, a bright boy 
about 14 years of age, who is a stamp collector and who received the stamps from his uncle 
and traded them with me for a lot of foreign stamps which he wanted to fill up vacant spaces 
in his album. 

In view of this information, it is my opinion that, by mistake, the plate of the two cents 
Navy was used instead of the two cents State. I have never heard of a two cents Navy in 
green being found in the Navy Department." 

Finally, under date of April 7th, 1899, Mr. R. A. Tarr writes me that 
he has recently seen a copy of the Navy department error, cancelled and on 
the original cover. 

The bi-sected six cents of the Post Office Department, which is men- 
tioned in the reference list, was shown me by Mr. S. M. Castle. It is used, I'ost Office Dept., 
in connection with a three cent stamp, on a six cent envelope of the 1874 ,) '- secte ' 1 Slx cents - 
issue for the Post Office Department. The cancellation is " Niagara Falls, 
June 1 8th," the year not being given. 

In the collection of Mr. F. O. Conant is an interesting oddity, in the 
shape of a three cent stamp of the Post Office Department used as a postage 
due stamp. On the envelope is a duly cancelled copy of the three cents i'ost office Dept. 
green of the 1879 issue. But the letter was evidently overweight, since it « ale" stamp* 
bears the handstamp " due 3 ". In payment of this shortage a three cent 
Post Office Department stamp has been affixed, partly over the original can 
cellation, and cancelled in turn. This was done at Berlin Falls, N. H., 
April 30th, 1880. It may be added that this does not represent an attempt 
to create a curiosity, since neither writer, receiver nor postmaster were in 
the least interested in philately. 

The catalogues, following the lead of collectors, have listed the stamps 
of the Post Office Department on white and gray-surfaced paper. This dis- 
tinction is scarcely warranted by any actual merit in the two varieties. The Post, Office Dept., 
paper is the same, the difference being merely a matter of appeaiance. When s ri, J- sulfact ' (1 pnper. 
the plates were thoroughly wiped the paper came from the press clear and 
white. When the wiping was imperfectly done the ink which remained on 
the surface of the plate discolored the paper and made it appear of a gray 
tint. The contrast between the two varieties is often very marked and 
leading philatelists have seen fit to place the two sets in their collections, 
thus giving them a standing. 

Some of the bi-colored values of the Department of State were at one state Department, 
time reported with the medallion inverted but, as was explained on page 114, 1UTer e ,ll( " a 10US * 
they were purely imaginary articles. 

In the Philatelical Journal for February 20th, 1875, we find the follow- 
ing letter concerning the use of the higher values of the State Department 
stamps. 



268 OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1873. 

"Sir : — The following explanation of the use of the 10 and 20 dollars stamps may be 

useful. These two values are no longer used on packages ; the heavy mails of the State 

State Department, Depaitment are now sent to the City Post-office, and charged against the Department. The 

alleged use of the account is settled monthly by payments in the high value stamps. These are turned over 

higher values. by the city postmaster to the General Post-office as vouchers for the account, and are 

destroyed. Thus you will see that neither used nor unused copies are to be had. 

Yours truly, 

C. E. D. 
Washington, January 1st, 1 S 75 . '* 

This communication is given for what it is worth and in the hope that 
quoting it may possibly elicit further information on the subject. Unless it 
can be confirmed I am not inclined to accept the statement, in view of the 
fact that the law required that postage on all letters and packages should 
be prepaid by means of stamps. 

The plates for the official stamps varied in size. The majority con- 
tained one hundred stamps each, a few had two hundred, while those for the 
Plates. four higher values ot the Department of State had only ten, arranged in two 

rows of five stamps each. The latter stamps being printed in two colors, two 
plates were required for each value. However, the same vignette plate (No. 
123) was used in connection with the frame plates of all four values. The 
impressions from the plates of two hundred stamps were divided vertically 
into sheets of one hundred stamps each. 

The imprint was the same as that on the plates of the ordinary stamps 
at the same date, i. e,, "printed by the — continental bank note co. new 
imprints au«i plate york ", in two lines of white capitals, on a panel with pearled edges and sur- 
uumiters. rounded by a thin colored line. On the plates having one hundred stamps the 

imprint was placed at the top and bottom, over or under the second, third and 
fourth stamps from the left. The plate number, preceded by "No." was placed 
over or under the sixth stamp from the left. On the plates having two hundred 
stamps the imprint appeared at the middle of the top and bottom of each half 
of the plate. The plate number was placed between each imprint and the 
vertical dividing line. On the impressions from the plates of the four higher 
values of the Department of State we find the imprint, in green, below the 
second, third and fourth stamps of the lower row, while at the top it is printed 
in black and, beginning at the left of the first stamp, extends over that and 
the second stamp. "No." and the plate number, in green, are placed over 
the third stamp and " No." and a number, in black, over the fourth and fifth 
stamps. The imprint and number in green belong to the frame plate and 
those in black to the vignette plate. 

In the following list of numbers of the plates for the official stamps, 
the figures enclosed in parenthesis indicate the number of stamps on the 
plate. 

Plate numbers. DEPARTMINT OF AGRICULTURE. 

i cent ( 100) No. 65. 

2 cents ( 100) No. 64. 

3 cents (100) No. 57. 
6 cents ( 100) No. 72. 

10 cents (100) No. 114. 
12 cents ( 100) No. 73. 



OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF I 873. 



269 



15 cents (100) No. 105. 
24 cents (100) No. 145. 
30 cents (100) No. 100. 



The Executive. 



1 cent 

2 cents 

3 cents 
6 cents 

10 cents 



(100) 
(100) 
(100) 
(100) 
(100) 



No. 82. 
No. 75. 
No. 63. 
No. 76. 
No. in. 



Department of the Interior. 



1 cent (100) 

2 cents (100) 

3 cents (100) 
6 cents (100) 

10 cents (100) 
12 cents • (100) 

15 cents (100) 

24 cents (100) 

30 cents (100) 

90 cents (100) 



No. 52. 
No. 45. 
No. 27. 
No. 56. 
No. 109. 
No. 49. 
No. 93. 
No. 104. 
No. 95. 
No. 108. 



Department of Justice. 



1 cent (100) 

2 cents (100) 

3 cents (100) 
6 cents (100) 

10 cents' (100) 

1 2 cents (100) 

15 cents (100) 

24 cents (100) 

30 cents (100) 

90 cents (100) 



No. 85 
No. 90 
No. 28 
No. 77 
No. 97 
No. 91 
No. 99 
No. 1 15. 
No. no. 
No. 1 13. 



Navy Department. 



1 cent 1 

2 cents 

3 cents 

6 cents 

7 cents 
:o cents 
12 cents 
15 cents 
24 cents 
30 cents 
90 cents 



(100) 
(too) 
(100) 
(100) 
(100) 
(100) 
(100) 
(100) 
(100) 
(100) 
(100) 



No. 80. 
No. 50. 
No. 34. 
No. 53. 
No. 1 19. 
No. 10 1. 
No. 92. 
No. 94. 
No. 107. 
No. 96. 
No. 106. 



270 



OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1873. 



Post Office Department. 

1 cent (200) No. 43. 

2 cents (100) No. 37, 38, 285. 

3 cents (100) No. 36, 40. 

(200) No. 30, 41, 140, 141. 
(200) No. 39, 47, 249. 
(100) No. 62. 

No. 7T. 

No. 66. 

No. 74. 

No. 68. 

No. 88. 



6 cents 
io cents 
12 cents 
1 5 cents 
24 cents 
30 cents 
90 cents 



(100) 
(100) 
(100) 
(100) 
(100) 
Department of State. 

1 cent (100) No. 55. 

2 cents ( 100) No. 59. 

3 cents (100) No. 70. 

6 cents ( 100) No. 83. 

7 cents (100) No. 1 12. 
10 cents (100) No. 98. 

1 2 cents (100) No. 78. 

15 cents (100) No. 118. 

24 cents (100) No. 117. 

30 cents (100) No. 116. 

90 cents (100) No. 67. 

2 dollars (10) No. frame 121, vignette 123. 



5 dollars (10) No. " 120, 

10 dollars (10) No. " 122, 

20 dollars (10) No. " 124, 

Treasury Department. 



123. 
123. 

123. 



1 cent 

2 cents 

3 cents 

6 cents 

7 cents 
10 cents 
12 cents 
15 cents 
24 cents 
30 cents 
90 cents 



1 cent 

2 cents 

3 cents 

6 cents 

7 cents 



200) No. 44. 

200) No. 42. 

200) No. 29, 33. 

100) No. 5 r. 

100) No. 103. 

100) No. 58. 

100) No. 46. 

100) No. 84. 

100) No. 134. 

100) No. 69. 

100) No. 61. 



War Department. 



100) No. 48. 

2co) No. 35. 

100) No. 32. 

100) No. 60. 

100) No. 102. 



OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1873. 



27 I 



10 cents (100) No. 79. 
1 2 cents (100) No. 54. 
15 cents (100) No. 87. 
24 cents (100) No. 86. 
30 cents (100) No. 8r. 
90 cents (100) No. 89. 
The number 8r, which had been assigned to the thirty cents of the 
War Department, was, by mistake, engraved on the plate of the one cent 
Executive. As soon as the error was noticed the number was defaced by 
chisel marks and the correct number, 82, inserted beside it. The two cents 
of the Navy Department printed in green is, of course, from plate 50, the 
only plate for that value. 

The following quantities of official stamps were printed and delivered 
to the Stamp Agent during the first four years they were in use : 
Year ending December 31st, 1873 : 

Department : 





Agriculture. 


Executive. 


Interior. 


Justice. 


Navy. 


1 cent 


93>5°° 


10,800 


T44,5°° 


30,800 


5 8 ,5°° 


2 cents 


131,300 


11,500 


427,500 


30,400 


'35,500 


3 cents 


321,000 


12,100 


1,214,500 


85,500 


206,000 


6 cents 


126,500 


10,700 


894,800 


66,000 


125,600 


7 cents 







....... 




13,400 


10 cents 


46,500 


10,600 


66,300 


2 1,400 


38,000 


12 cents 


48,500 




169,500 


44,800 


28,000 


15 cents 


46,900 




97,300 


33,5oo 


26,500 


24 cents 


39.5°° 





49,400 


20,500 


13,800 


30 cents 


43, 3°° 





53,5oo 


22,200 


12,400 


90 cents 







37. 9°° 

3, 'SS, 200 


10,000 


10,600 


Total 


897,000 


55.700 


365,100 


668,300 




Post Office. 


State. 


Treasury. 


War. 


Total. 


1 cent 


1,336,000 


45,800 


3,223,400 


487,500 


5,430,800 


2 cents 


714,500 


46,300 


3,446,500 


285,500 


5,229,000 


3 cents 


'5>434,ooo 


45,600 


7,027,000 


55 2 ,50 


24,898,200 


6 cents 


1,587,000 


42,700 


1, 437,°oo 


156,000 


4,446,300 


7 cents 




45,800 


329,200 


38,000 


426,400 


10 cents 


242,200 


45,200 


520,300 


28,700 


1,019,200 


12 cents 


528,000 


45,600 


T, 142,500 


37,200 


2,044,100 


15 cents 


171,500 


45,600 


1,178,900 


25,000 


1,625,200 


24 cents 


65, 5°° 


45,800 


2 90,000 


27,600 


552,ioo 


30 cents 


67,800 


45>3°° 


l84,IOO 


23,300 


451,900 


90 cents 


37,800 


42,400 


137,500 


23,900 


300,100 


2 dollars 




700 








700 


5 dollars 





700 






700 


10 dollars 




700 






700 


20 dollars 





700 







700 



Statistics of 
manufacture. 



Total 20,184,300 



498,900 18,916,400 1,685,200 46,426,100 



272 



OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF I 873. 



Year 



i cent 

2 cents 

3 cents 

6 cents 

7 cents 
10 cents 
1 2 cents 
15 cents 
24 cents 
30 cents 
90 cents 

Total 

1 cent 

2 cents 

3 cents 

6 cents 

7 cents 
10 cents 
1 2 cents 
15 cents 
24 cents 
30 cents 
90 cents 

2 dollars ■ 

Total 
Year 



ending December 31st, 1874 : 

Department : 

Executive. Interior. 
190,000 



Agriculture. 
152,000 

154,5°° 
95,000 
95,000 

134,200 
95,000 
95,000 

133,9°° 
130,000 



97,5°° 



39,5°° 
39,000 



1,084,600 

Post Office. 
2,667500 

i3.5 6 7>5°° 



. . . .... 366,000 

State. Treasury. 



38,5°< 



684,000 



192,500 
192,500 
195,000 



1,800 



1 cent 

2 cents 

3 cents 

6 cents 

7 cents 
10 cents 
12 cents 
15 cents 
24 cents 
30 cents 
90 cents 

Total 



16,815,000 40,300 684,000 

ending December 31st, 1875 : 

Department : 
Agriculture. Executive. Interior. 

97,5°° 

95,°°° 

9,500 1,010,000 

37 2 , 5°° 



9,5°° 



141,500 
47,000 
46,500 
95,000 

1,905,000 



Justice. Navy. 

95,000 
95,000 
95,000 
95,000 
95,000 
95,000 
95,000 
47,5°° 
47,5°° 
47,5°° 
47,5°° 
855,000 

War. Total. 

'9 2 > 5°° 3, 2 97,°°° 

192,500 442,000 

192,500 13,988,500 

195,000 1,069,000 

95>°°° 
192,500 519,200 
192,500 382, 500 

i9 2 ,5°° 335,°°° 
95,000 508,400 

95,000 504,000 

242,500 

1,800 

1,540,000 21,384,900 



Justice. 



37,5°° 



Navy. 
375,°°° 
35 2 >5°° 
735, °°° 
370,000 
185,000 
190,000 
175,000 
180,000 
185,000 
187,500 
187,500 



37>5°° 3, ,22 ,5°o 



OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF I 873. 



273 





Post Office. 


i cent 




2 cents 




3 cents 


9,997,5°° 


6 cents 


1,280,000 


7 cents 




10 cents 


85,000 


12 cents 


92,500 


15 cents 


85,000 


24 cents 


90,000 


30 cents 


82,500 


90 cents 


87, 5°° 


2 dollars 




5 dollars 




10 dollars 


.... . . . . 


20 dollars 





State. 



37,5°° 
3 2 »5°° 



Treasury. 
970,000 
960,000 

1,935.°°° 

895,000 

92,500 

80, coo 

85,000 
95,000 

90,000 

116,000 

8c, 000 



1,980 
1,870 

J ,93° 
1,940 



Total 11,800,000 77,7 2 ° 5,398,5°° 

Year ending December 31st, 1876 : 



Department : 



1 cent 

2 cents 

3 cents 

6 cents 

7 cents 
10 cents 
1 2 cents 
15 cents 
24 cents 
30 cents 
90 cents 

Total 



Interior. 

220,000 
190,000 



90,000 



Post Office. 

185,000 
6,175,000 



Total. 

405,000 
6,365,000 



90,000 



47,500 



47,5°° 



War. Total. 

190,000 1,632,500 
195,000 1,602,500 

485,000 r4, 247, 000 
"85,000 3,135,000 



180,000 
185,000 
175,000 
177,500 
182,500 
180,000 
192,500 



457,5°° 
540,000 
669,000 

5 8 4,5°° 
594,°°° 
661, oco 

547,5°° 
.... . . 1,980 

1,870 

i,93° 

i,94° 

2,3 2 7,5 co 24,678,220 



547,500 6,360,000 6,907,500 

I greatly regret that I have not been able to obtain further statistics 
of deliveries to the Stamp Agent. The foregoing tables are not sufficiently 
extensive to enable us to make comparisons and deductions of much value- 
It is particularly to be regretted that we have no statistics of the quantities 
delivered in 1879 an( i subsequent years, as there are a number of questions 
connected with the official stamps printed by the American Bank Note Co. 
which might be settled if we had at command the records of the quantities 
supplied under the contracts of that company. 

From the fact that, in 1876, stamps were prepared for only two depart- 
ments, and for a limited number of values at that, we must infer either a 
great decrease in their use or considerable overproduction in previous years. 

It may be well to remark that these tables do not include the special 
printing of official stamps made in 1875, which stamps were surcharged 
"specimen " and sold as companion sets to the reprints and re-issues of the 
several series of ordinary postage stamps. 



Official Stamps. 

Issue of 1879. 

After the consolidation of the Continental Bank Note Co. with the 
American Bank Note Co., in February, 1879, the latter company printed such 
official stamps as were required, using the soft porous paper which distin- 
guishes all stamps produced by them. As it has not been possible to obtain 
access to the records of the printings, the list of official stamps on this paper 
is compiled from discoveries reported by philatelists. Some of the stamps 
are very common on this paper — for example many values of the Interior and 
War departments — while others are quite scarce. 

Reference List. Perforated 12. 

Soft Porous White Wove Paper. 

Department of Agriculture. 

1879. r cent bright orange-yellow 

2 cents bright orange-yellow 

3 cents bright orange-yellow 
6 cents bright orange-yellow 

Department of the Interior. 

1879. 1 cent pale vermilion, vermilion 

2 cents scarlet-vermilion 

3 cents pale vermilion, vermilion, scarlet-vermilion 

6 cents pale vermilion, vermilion, scarlet-vermilion 
rose-vermilion 
10 cents pale vermilion, vermilion 
12 cents vermilion 
15 cents vermilion 
24 cents vermilion 

Department of Justice. 

1879. 3 cents bluish purple, deep bluish purple 

6 cents bluish purple 



official stamps. — issue of 1879. 275 

Navy Department. 



1879. 1 cent dull blue 

2 cents dull blue 

3 cents dull blue 
6 cents dull blue 



Post Office Department. 



1879- 1 cent gray-black 

2 cents gray-black 

3 cents gray-black 
6 cents gray-black 

12 cents gray-black 
15 cents gray-black 



Department of State. 

1879. 15 cents green 

30 cents green 

Treasury Department. 

1879. 1 cent dark brown 

3 cents dark brown, dark yellow-brown 
6 cents dark brown, dark yellow-brown 

10 cents dark brown, dark yellow-brown 

12 cents dark brown 

15 cents dark brown 

30 cents dark brown, dark yellow-brown 

90 cents dark brown, dark yellow-brown 

War Department. 

1879. ] cent pale dull rose, pale brown-rose, brown-rose, 

dull lake 

2 cents pale dull rose, deep brown-rose, pale dull ver- 

milion, dull vermilion 

3 cents pale dull rose, brown-rose 

6 cents pale dull rose, dull rose, pale brown rose, 
brown rose 
10 cents pale dull rose, deep rose, dull brown-rose 
12 cents pale dull rose, dull brown-lake 
24 cents pale dull rose 
30 cents pale dull rose 



Variety: 
3 cents deep rose. Imperforate 



276 



OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 



' Specimen ' 
stanijis. 



A possible 
provisional issue. 



Plates. 



In addition to these varieties, the one cent Executive and the one and 
seven cents Department of State, all surcharged " specimen ", are found on 
soft porous paper, but copies of these values without the surcharge have not 
been discovered. 

I have in my collection a three cents green, of the regular issue of 
1S82, which is overprinted, in black, in two lines, "p. o. dept. — 24c." with 
a bar across the original value. This stamp was presented to me by Mr. C. 
A. Townsend, who writes me that he knows nothing about the stamp except 
that he found five or six copies (including one pair) in a large quantity of 
stamps which he purchased some years ago. The stamps had been accumu- 
lated by a young lady who was not a philatelist but had made the oft repeated 
attempt to collect a million stamps. My copy is uncancelled. 

The American Bank Note Co. made only one plate for official stamps. 
This was for the one cent stamp of the Post Office Department. This plate 
was numbered 428 and contained two hundred stamps. For printing any 
other official stamps the plates of the Continental Bank Note Co. were used. 
On consulting the list given in the preceding chapter, it will be seen that there 
was only one plate for each of the official stamps, except for the two, three 
and six cents Post Office Department and the three cents Treasury Depart- 
ment. For printing the latter stamp plate 29 was used by the American 
Bank Note Co. and probably the plates with the highest numbers were em- 
ployed for the three stamps of the Post Office Department. To give a list of 
the numbers of the other plates which were used would be an unnecessary 
repetition. 



Abol 
frabki 
dissat 



It was scarcely to be expected that the official stamps would be received 
with favor, either by individuals who were deprived of the franking privilege 
coincidently with the advent of the stamps, or by the various branches of the 
government, which were required to expend large sums for the purchase of 
these stamps from the Post Office Department. As early as February, 1874, 
we read in the American Journal of Philately : 

"_The sales of postage stamps at the post office of the House of Representatives fre- 
quently exceed $50 a day The members begin to feel the inconvenience and loss to 
on of themselves fiom the abolition of the franking privilege, now that they are daily called upon 
Lg causes to send public documents to their constituents at their own expense. They say they do not 
sfaction. mind putting stamps on their letters, but when it comes to paying postage on heavy books, 
the burden is too heavy to be long endured. There is a good deal of talk of a revival of 
franking as applied to public documents only. Another plan is to authorize, by law, the 
Public Printer to mail the documents, free of postage, to such persons as the members shall 
direct ; and still another is to have a stamping machine with an engraved steel die kept in 
the Clerk's office to stamp documents for free transmission through the mails." 

However, no immediate legislative action was taken in the direction of 
repeal or modification of the law, and Congress continued to make annual 
appropriations of such sums as it was estimated would be required, by the 
various departments, for the purchase of stamps. 

By an Act which was approved August 15th, 1876, a slight change 



OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 



277 



was effected in the law, with respect to the manner of crediting the Post 
Office Department for the work of carrying the correspondence of the other 
departments. This Act provided : 

"That the Secretaries respectively of the Departments of State, Treasury, War, Navy 
and Interior and the Attorney General, are authorized to make requisitions upon the 
Postmaster General for the necessary amount of postage stamps for the use of their Depart- Change in method 
ments, not exceeding the amount stated in the estimates submitted to Congress, and upon of obtaining stamps. 
presentation of proper vouchers therefore at the Treasury, the amount thereof shall be 
credited to the appropriation for the Post Office Department for the same fiscal year." 

The first important change in the law was contained in the Act, 
approved March 3rd, 1877, which provided in part as follows : 

"That it shall be lawful to transmit through the mail, free of postage, any letters, 
packages or other matter relating exclusively to the business of the Government of the 
United States : Provided, that every such letter or package to entitle it to pass free shall "Penalty" 

bear over the words 'Official Business' an endorsement, showing also the name of the envelopes 

Department, and if from a bureau or office, the names of the Department and bureau or authorized. 

office, as the case may be, whence transmitted And if any person shall make use of any 
such official envelope to avoid the payment of postage on his private letter, package or other 
matter in the mail, the person so offending shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and 
subject to a fine of three hundred dollars, to be prosecuted in any court of competent 
jurisdiction. 

That, for the purpose of carrying this Act into effect, it shall be the duty of each of the 
Executive Departments of the United States, to provide for itself and its subordinate officers 
the necessary envelopes, and in addition to the endorsement designating the Department in 
which they are to be used, the penalty tor the unlawful use shall be stated thereon. 

That Senators, Representatives and Delegates in Congress, the Secretary of the 
Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, may send and receive through the 
mail all public documents printed by order of Congress, and the name of each Senator, 
Representative, Delegate, Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House, shall be written 
thereon, with the proper designation of the' office he holds, and the provisions of this section 
shall apply to each of the persons mentioned therein until the first day of December following 
the expiration of their terms of office." 

It will be observed that by this Act the franking privilege was to a 
certain extent, restored. The so-called " penalty " envelopes were created 
and, by their use, the official stamps were almost entirely superseded for 
franking correspondence from the departments. But subordinate officers, 
especially postmasters, continued to use the stamps on correspondence to the 
departments and elsewhere, as required. 

The effect of these changes appears to have been felt very soon by the 
Post Office Department. The Third Assistant Postmaster General, in his 
report for the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1877, says : "The total receipts Decreased receipts 
for the year were $1,112,612.24 less than those of the preceding year. The 
decrease is due largely to the reduction in receipts for official postage stamps, 
the amount derived from that source during the -last fiscal year being only 
$370,730.47 against $1,281,389.43 for the previous year." It should be 
remembered that these figures do not include the stamps used by the Post 
Office Department but only those purchased from it by the other departments. 

The Postmaster General, in his annual report for 1878, complains of 
the added burden without compensation, saying that, in addition to the 
official correspondence of the various departments which must be transmitted 
free, members of Congress might now send almost anything except letters 
through the mails and were availing themselves of the privilege and sending 
vast quantities of books, documents, seeds, shrubs, etc., etc. 



Use of official 
stamps much 

reduced. 



Of the Post Office 
Department. 



278 OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF I 879. 

By a subsequent amendment of the law the use of official stamps was 
almost entirely done away with. On this subject the report of the Postmaster 
General for 1885, says : 

" The use of official stamps and stamped envelopes was wholly discontinued by this 
Use of official stamps Department, and substantially so by the other Departments on the 30th of June, 1879, under 
further decreased, tlie Act authorizing the use of official penalty envelopes." 

The Act here referred to was approved March 3rd, 1879, and provided 
as follows : 

" That the provisions of the fifth and sixth sections of the Act entitled ' An Act estab- 
lishing post routes and for other purposes ', approved March 3d, 1877, for the transmission 
Franking privilege of official mail matter be, and they are hereby, extended to all officers of the United States 
extended. Government, and made applicable to all official mail matter transmitted between any of 

the officers of the United States, or between any such officer and either of the Executive 
Departments or officers of the Government * * . And the provisions of said fifth 
and sixth sections are hereby likewise extended and made applicable to all official mail 
matter sent from the Smithsonian Institution." 

In conformity with this Act the Third Assistant Postmaster General 
issued the following : 

Circular to Postmasters. 



POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, 

OFFICE OF THE THIRD ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GENERAL, 

Division of Postage Stamps, Stamped 

Envelopes, and Postal Cards, 
Washington, D. C, ^/Jpril 22, /8yp. 

Use of Free Envelopes — Discontinuance of Official Postage Stamps. 

Under the provisions of Sections 5 and 6 of the Act of Congress " establishing post- 
routes, and for other purposes," approved March 3, 1877, and Section 29 of the " Act 
Circular of the making appropriations for the Post Office Department," &c, approved March 3, 1879, the 
Post Office Department will begin the issue, on May 1st next, of envelopes for official business, which 

Department. will secure the free transmission through the mails of all official matter, and which are 
intended to supersede the post office envelopes now in use, as well as official postage stamps 
and official stamped envelopes. Accordingly, the issue of official stamps and official stamped 
envelopes will be discontinued on and after the date named. 

These free envelopes will be of the same sizes as the present post office envelopes, will 
be of the same color, (canary,) and will contain the same general forms of printing. Each 
envelope, however, will bear, in addition, the words " Post Office Department, Post Officeat 

, Official Business," and the penalty imposed by law for its misuse, as follows : " A 

penalty of $300 is fixed by law for using this envelope for other than official business.' 
When 500 of these free envelopes are ordered at one time, of either the Nos. 1, 2, or 3 sizes, 
the name of the post office will be printed in; also when 250 of the No. 4 size. In all other 
cases, a blank will be left for the'name of the post office, which must be written in by the 
postmaster before using the envelope. 

WWThe name of the office, it must be understood, is required by law to appear on the 
envelopes, and, when not in print, must be in writing. 

Post Office Envelopes, and Official Stamps and Stamped Envelopes 
now on Hand. 

The stock of post office envelopes now in the hands of postmasters will, until exhausted, 
continue to be used, as heretofore, by the attachment of official postage stamps ; so, also, 
official stamped envelopes now in the hands of postmasteis at Presidential offices will be 
used, as heretofore, until exhausted. 



OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 279 

As soon, however, as such envelopes or the official stamps on hand are about to 
become exhausted, requisition must be made for a supply of the free envelopes, and the 
official postage stamps remaining on hand must be returned, registered, to the Department. 
If the official postage stamps now on hand should become exhausted before the post office 
envelopes, then the remaining envelopes should be returned to the Department and a supply 
of free envelopes ordered. 

It is expected that postmasters will use these envelopes without waste, and never 
permit them to be used on other than strictly official business. Any violation of this instruc- 
tion will be regarded as good ground for dismissal from office, besides subjecting the offender 
to the penalty of the law. 

A. D, HAZEN, 
Third <J!ss't Tostmaster Gen'I. 

It must be remembered that this circular applied only to the stamps 
and envelopes of the Post Office Department. With the exception of the 
Executive, which had discontinued the use of stamps in 1877, the other 
departments continued to use them to some extent. 

The complete and final abolishment of the official stamps was effected 
by an Act of the Forty-eighth Congress, Session 1, Chapter 234, from which 
the following is quoted : 

"Section 5. That section twenty-nine of the Act of March 3d, 1879, be, and it is 
hereby amended so as to read as follows : 

The provisions of the fifth and sixth sections of the Act entitled ' An act establishing Official stamps 
post-routes and for other purposes,' approved March 3d, 1877 for the transmission of official entirely abolished. 
mail matter be, and they are hereby, extended to all officers of the United States Government 
not including members of Congress, the envelopes of such matter in all cases to bear appro- 
priate endorsements containing the proper designation of the office from which or officer 
from whom the same is transmitted, with a statement of the penalty for their misuse. And 
the provisions of said fifth and sixth sections are hereby likewise extended and made applic- 
able to all official mail matter of the Smithsonian Institution : 

Provided, That any department or officer authorized to use the penalty envelopes may 
enclose them with return address to any person or persons from or through whom official 
information is desired, the same to be used only to cover such official information and en- 
dorsements relating thereto : 

Provided further, That any letter or packet to be registered by either of the Executive 
Departments or Bureaus thereof, or by the Agricultural Depaitment, or by the Public Printer, 
may be registered without the payment of any registry fee ; and any postpaid letter or packet 
addressed to either of said Departments or Bureaus may be delivered free ; but where there 
is good reason to believe the omission to prepay the full postage thereon was intentional, 
such letter or packet shall be returned to the sender : 

Provided further. That this act shall not extend or apply to pension agents or other 
officers who receive a fixed allowance as compensation for their services, including expenses 
of postage. 

And Section 3915 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, so far as the same relates 
to stamps and stamped envelopes for official purposes, is hereby repealed. 

Approved July 5th, 1884." 

Thus the use of the official stamps was brought to an end. 



From the annual reports of the Postmaster General we obtain the fol- 
lowing statistics of official stamps delivered to the different departments during 
the years they were in use. The reader will kindly bear in mind that the 
year is always the fiscal year ending June 30th: 



OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 



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OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 



285 



The official stamps having become obsolete, it is said that the various 
departments were requested to return to the Post Office department any 
unused stamps which they had on hand, and that some of the departments 
complied with this request while others declined, on the ground that they 
had paid for the stamps and should not be expected to give them up unless 
properly compensated. Concerning such official stamps as had been manu- 
factured but not distributed to the departments, the Third Assistant Post- 
master General made the following recommendations : 

Post Office Department, 
office of the third assistant postmaster general, 
Washington, D C, January 14, 1885. 

Sir : — The issue and use of official stamps was discontinued under the 
third section of the Act of July 5, 1884 (General Statutes, ist Session, 48th 
Congress), extending the use of penalty envelopes to all classes of official 
correspondence. At that time the contractors for furnishing stamps, the 
American Bank Note Co., of New York, had and now have in their vaults at 
the manufactory, as shown by the weekly reports made to this office, the 
following numbers and denominations of official stamps, viz : 



Denomination 


Executive 


State. 


Treasury. 


War. 


Navy. 


Schedule of unissued 


1 cent 


3.5oo 


'3-5 ° 


',29 2 ,95o 


37,170 


42 1,200 


official stamps. 


2 cents 


1,900 


4,000 


1,921,500 


75,340 


3 8l > 1 5° 




3 cents 


1,100 


11,900 


534,ooo 


104,463 


454,800 




6 cents 


4,700 


10,600 


169,000 


2,787 


355,3°° 




7 cents 




7,500 


201,200 


161,772 


276,900 




10 cents 


4,95° 


8,000 


13,30° 


23 T ,947 


267,290 




12 cents 




24,3 co 


444,000 


25,130 


236,199 




15 cents 




22,300 


610,400 


108,540 


216,000 




24 cents 




3 f »5°° 


279,500 


103,675 


219,800 




30 cents 




24,700 


20,600 


6,159 


217,300 




90 cents 




35,257 


37,000 


167,728 


233. 8 3° 




2 dollars 




472 










5 dollars 




1,707 










10 dollars 




1,767 










20 dollars 




r,777 
[99,280 












16,150 


5.5 2 3,45 


1,024,711 


3.279,769 




Denomination. 


Interior. 




Post Office. 


Justice. 


Agriculture. 




1 cent 


56,000 




2,888,750 


24,300 


M9,585 




2 cents 


13,700 




449,400 


21,000 


55,15° 




3 cents 


40,500 




263,100 


79,700 


37,95° 




6 cents 


37,800 




559,700 


47,5°° 


101,000 




7 cents 














10 cents 


3 2 >°5° 




144,250 


19,400 


84,935 




12 cents 


99,45° 




32 1,220 


i7,5°° 


9', 735 




15 cents 


52,200 




I4 6 } 715 


20,200 


87,35° 




24 cents 


*°>i75 




2 59,875 


13,600 


112,635 




30 cents 


48,700 




209,045 


13,100 


.90,535 




90 cents 


20,523 




254,600 


6,300 







411,098 



5,496,655 



262,600 



810,875 



Grand Total, 17,024,588. 



286 OFFICIAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF I 879. 

As it is not likely that these stamps will be needed for use by the gov- 

Destruction ernment, to avoid any risks that may attend their custody, I would respectfully 

recommend that they be counted and destroyed under the supervision of a 

committee to be appointed by the Postmaster General, and the facts certified 

under affidavit by the committee. 

There are also in the vaults of the contractors certain other stamps of 
the regular series that have been rendered unserviceable by reason of changes 
other unissued at various times in the rates of postage, and as it is improbable that these 
stamps will ever be required for issue, I would recommend that they also be 
counted and destroyed in like manner, and by the same committee suggested 
with regard to the official stamps. 

These stamps are in number and denomination as follows : 
Denomination. Ordinary. Newspaper and Periodical. Total. 

3 cents • 223,750 223,750 

7 cents 545> 6o ° 545> e, °° 

9 cents 101,240 101,240 

J 2 cents 5°3»75° 5°3»75° 

24 cents 3 6 4,95° 3 6 4,95° 

Total 1,414,300 3 2 4,99 h 739,29° 

I have excepted from this recommendation the three-cent stamps of 
the ordinary series, of which there are 135,800 in the vault, for the reason 
Three-cent stamps that, though their general issue has been discontinued, occasional calls are 
exoepted. made for them by some of the larger offices. 

The total number of stamps in the foregoing lists, recommended to be 
destroyed, is 18,763,878, which at the contract price of 9.19c per thousand, 
would amount to $204.52. 

In the event that this recommendation should meet with your approval, 
permit me to suggest that the work of counting and destruction be performed 
by the committee selected to supervise the cancellation of the dies, etc., at 
the several places of manufacture. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

A. D. Hazen, 
Hon. Frank Hatton, Third Assistant Postmaster General. 

Post7?iaster General. 

These suggestions appear to have met with the approval of the Post- 
master General and they were accordingly embodied in the following order : 
Post Office Department, 

office of the postmaster general, 

Washington, D. C, January 14, 1885. 
Ordered (No. 75), that A. G. Sharp, Chief Post Office Inspector, Geo. W. 
Wells, Chief of the Finance Division of the Office of the Third Assistant 
Postmaster General, and C. M. Walker, Chief Clerk of the Post Office De- 
partment, be designated as a committee to visit the postage stamp manufactory 
at New York, the stamped envelope manufactory at Hartford, Conn., and 
the postal card manufactory at Castleton, N. Y., and in connection with the 
Government agent at each of these places, to dispose of, as hereinafter 



OFFICIAL STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1879. 287 

indicated, the dies, rolls and plates of the several series of postage stamps, 
stamped envelopes and postal cards heretofore and now in use. 

Postage Stamps. 

At New York, the Committee will effectually cancel all plates of the 
following series and denominations of postage stamps, except one working plates ordered to 
plate of each : be cancell, " , • 

Issue of 1847 : Denominations, 5 and 10 cents. 

Issue of 185 1 : Denominations, r, 3, 5, 10, 12, 24, 30 and 90 cents, 
also two separate designs of i-cent carrier stamps. 

Issue of 1861 : Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30 and 90 
cents. 

Issue of 1865 (newspaper and periodical) : Denominations, 5, 10 and 
25 cents. 

Issue of 1869: Denominations, r, 2, 3, 6, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30 and 90 
cents. 

Issue of 1870 (current series) : Denominations, 3, 5 (Taylor), 7, 12 
and 24 cents. 

Issue of 1874 (newspaper and periodical): Denominations, 3 and 9 
cents. 

Executive (official) : Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6 and 10 cents 

Department of State (official) : Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, i2> 
15, 24, 30 and 90 cents, and $2, $5, $10 and $20. 

Treasury Department (official) : Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, io, 12, 
15, 24, 30 and 90 cents. 

War Department (official) : Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 12, 15, 
24, 30 and 90 cents. 

Navy Department (official) : Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 12, 15, 
24, 30 and 90 cents. 

Post Office Department (official) : Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10 12, 
15, 24, 30 and 90 cents. 

Department of the Interior (official) : Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, io, 
12, 15, 24, 30 and 90 cents. 

Department of Justice (official) : Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 12, 
15, 24, 30 and 90 cents. 

Department of Agriculture (official) : Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 
12, 15, 24 and 30 cents. 

The one plate of each kind and denomination of postage stamp reserved 
as above, and the dies and rolls from which they have been produced, together 
with all the cancelled plates, to be inventoried, waxed, and carefully boxed 
and sealed, and placed in the vault of the stamp manufactory in the custody 
and under the control of the agent, one copy of such inventory to be given to 
the agent, and one to be sent by the committee to the Department. 

The committee will also superintend the cancellation of any worn out 
and unserviceable plates of the current series of postage stamps that may be 
in the possession of the contractors. * * * * * * * 

The committee will also supervise the counting and destruction of 



288 OFFICIAL STAMPS.' — ISSUE OF 1879. 

stamps ordered to certain discontinued issues of postage stamps, at the postage stamp manufac- 
be des roye . tQr y a(; j^ew York, in accordance with the accompanying recommendation of 
the Third Assistant Postmaster General. 

Upon completing the work for which they are appointed, the committee 
will make a written report. 

Frank Hatton, 

Postmaster General. 

On February 24th, 1885, the committee reported : "We have counted 

and destroyed by burning, in accordance with instructions, the official and 

Committee report uncurrent stamps, numbering 18,438,888. The schedule of denominations is 

the destruction, herewith transmitted." (House Executive Documents, 1884-85, 48M Congress, 

Session II, No. 264.) 

The schedule was the same as that given in the letter of the Third 

Assistant Postmaster General, except that it did not include the newspaper 

Newspaper stamps and periodical stamps. The decision to destroy was evidently reconsidered 

not destroyed. j n t ] ie case Q f those stamps, and it is understood that at least a part of them 

were subsequently used. 

As has been previously remarked, the tables of quantities of stamps 
delivered to the Stamp Agent are not sufficiently extensive or complete to be 
High Tallies of the of much value for comparison, yet we can make some limited deductions 
l)cpt. «r stat.'. from them. Let us consider the four higher values of the Department of 
State. Comparing the number received by the Stamp Agent with the 
deliveries to the Department and the quantity burned, we find a difference of 
exactly five hundred of each value. We cannot, with present information, 
explain this discrepancy. It is possible that the stamps not accounted for 
were proofs, though I am advised, by those who are well informed about such 
matters, that this is not probable. For the present we will have to leave the 
question for the consideration of those who are interested in such matters. 



Newspaper and Periodical Stamps. 

Issue of 1865. 

It has been remarked in previous chapters that, in its earlier years, the 
postal service suffered much annoyance and loss through the competition 
of local delivery and express companies. Through legislation the Govern- 
ment finally secured exclusive control of the business of transporting letters 
but in the matter of handling newspapers the express companies continued 
to be active and successful rivals of the Post Office Department. They 
carried papers quickly and cheaply from publishers to distributing agents. 
On the other hand, the routine of the postal service, which required the 
papers to be carried to the post office, assorted, forwarded and again assorted 
before delivery, caused vexatious delays. An attempt to overcome this 
difficulty was made in an Act of Congress, approved March 3rd, 1863, which 
provided as follows : 

"The Postmaster General may, from time to time, provide by order the rates and 
terms upon which route agents may receive and deliver, at the mail car or steamer, packages Act concerning 
of newspapers and periodicals, delivered to them for that purpose by the publishers or any transporation of 
news agent in charge thereof, and not received from nor designed for delivery at any post newspapers. 

office." 

As the Post Office Department was anxious to secure the carrying of 
newspapers it is probable that the privileges granted by this Act were promptly 
made available. It is to be presumed that the postage was paid to the route 
agents to whom the packages of papers were delivered. Such a return to the 
old-fashioned method of collecting postage in money, without the use of 
stamps or other vouchers for the Government, could not fail to be unsatis- 
factory. As a remedy, postage stamps were brought into use, at some time 
during the summer of 1865. Concerning them the report of the Postmaster 
General, dated November 15th, 1865, says briefly : 

"New stamps have been adopted of the denominations of 5, 10 and 25 cents for Announcement of 
prepaying postage on packages of newspapers forwarded by publishers or newsdealers under _ • . „,,,,.,.,.,.,.,.. 
the authority of law, whereby a revenue will be secured hitherto lost to the Department." ' + 

The stamps are thus officially described : 

"The 5, 10 and 25 cent newspaper and periodical stamps are alike in 
general style, 2 by 3^ inches in dimensions, the denominations being repeated 
in Arabic and Roman numerals, in the upper corners Arabic and midway of Designs, 

the sides Roman. The numbers ' 10 ' and ' 5 ', five-eighths of an inch high, 
are white-faced, while those at the sides are the color of the stamp. On the 



290 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF I 865. 

25-cent stamp the side figures are also Arabic. The numerals in the upper 
corners of the 10 and 25 cent stamps are inclined outward; those on the 
5-cent are perpendicular. 

The letters ' u ' and ' s ' appear near the top in a horizontal line and, 
immediately beneath, the word ' postage ', in a line curved downward at 
each end. Next below this, in the middle of the stamp and surrounded by a 
border of lathe-work, are the several profile medallion portraits in a misty 
style of engraving. The Washington medallion is circular, 1 1-8 inches in 
diameter. The Franklin is an ellipse, 1 1-16 by 1 5-16 inches; while the 
Lincoln is a parallelogram with clipped corners, 7-8 by 1 3-8 inches. Below 
the tablets are the words representing the denominations, and ' newspapers 
and periodicals ', in three lines. After this, reference is made as follows: 
' sec. 38. act of congress approved march 3D 1863.' Below the border 
line proper -the heavy white line — at the bottom, in very small type, are 
the words ' national bank note company, new york '." 

The profile busts are intended to suggest coins or medals. The stamps 
measure 51x94^ to 95>^mm. 

The stamps differ from other issues of United States postage stamps in 
that they are typographed instead of being engraved in taille douce. On the 
Manufacture. plates, as originally made, the surface of the plate between the stamps was not 
cut away, consequently it received the ink like those parts of the design which 
were not incised. The result was that the stamps had a border of color. 
Subsequently the plate of the five cents was altered by removing the sur- 
face between the stamps, thus producing what is known as the " white bor- 
der ". Mr. Tiffany says that 20,140 of the five cents with colored border 
were issued, and "In 1868-69 there were issued 33,420 more of the five cent 
value, but these were improved by having the broad colored border remov- 
ed." I do not know upon what authority he bases these statements, but I 
am not inclined to accept them without question. By referring to the tables 
of statistics which accompany this chapter it will be seen that he quotes the 
quantities of the first and last years of issue but ignores the 80,000 copies 
issued in the two intervening years. The relative quantities to be found of 
the two varieties of the stamp suggest that those with the colored border 
were in use for only a limited period and were replaced by the second type 
at an early date. 

The stamps were perforated 12 and were issued ungummed. 

At first they were printed on a paper which was moderately thick, hard, 
Paper. opaque and very white, unless discolored by age. Afterwards a very thin, 

tough, almost pelure paper was used. The latest printings were on a thin, 
crisp, semi-transparent paper. 

They are found in the following shades : 

Reference List. Perforated 12. 

colored border. 

White Wove Paper. 

5 cents pale dull blue, dull blue, dark dull blue, deep 
bright blue 



NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF I 865. 29 I 

10 cents pale gray-green, gray-green, deep gray-green, 

green, deep green, bluish green 
25 cents pale orange-red, orange-red, vermilion, scarlet, 

carmine-red, brown-carmine, brown-red 
Pelure Paper. 
io cents pale gray-green, gray-green, deep gray-green 
25 cents orange-red, scarlet 

WHITE BORDER. 

White Wove Paper. 
' 5 cents pale blue, blue, pale bright blue, bright blue, deep 
bright blue, gray-blue, deep gray-blue 
Pelure Paper. 
5 cents blue, bright blue, deep bright blue 
The plates each contained twenty stamps, arranged in four rows of five 
stamps. The impressions were divided horizontally into sheets of ten stamps 
each. The imprint was "national bank note co. new york," in colored Plates. 

Roman capitals, on a small white panel having rounded ends and surrounded ,„ J ,n < )riIjt - 

1 . Plate Diuiiliers. 

by two fine white lines. The imprint was placed above the middle stamp of 
the upper row and below the corresponding stamp of the lower row. On the 
sheets of stamps with the colored borders the plate numbers were in large 
ornamental figures and were placed about iimm. to the right of the imprint, 
thus coming above or below the corner of the adjacent stamp. In removing 
the colored border from the five cent stamp both plate numbers were erased. 
To replace them the same number was engraved close to the end of the imprint 
— at the right of the upper and at the left of the lower imprint — in small white 
figures, i^mm. high. The plate numbers were : 

5 cents No. 38. 

io cents No. 39. 

25 cents No. 40. 

The Stamp Collector s Magazine for May, 1867, says : 

" For some reason these labels are only regularly sold at the post office 
in Chicago, Illinois, where they have always been procurable since the time 
of issue, but other offices have occasionally kept them in stock " Other Bestricted use. 
writers say, "only at Chicago, 111. and Milwaukee, Wis." It is difficult to 
understand this restricted use, but probably, in other cities, the publishers 
continued to favor the express companies. 

The stamps were usually cancelled with a brush dipped in black or 
blue ink. Specimens with postmarks are nearly always bogus. Genuinely 
used copies are scarce, as the wrappers to which they were attached were Cancellation. 
usually thrown away as waste paper. Furthermore, the cancelled stamps are 
seldom in good condition. This is probably due to the large size of the 
stamps and to their having been hurriedly and carelessly affixed to the 
packages. 

On January 21st, 1867, there was made, by order of A. N. Zevely, 
Third Assistant Postmaster General, a special printing of 1,000 copies of each "Specimens," 



292 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1865. 

denomination of this issue. These stamps were overprinted " specimen " in 
large gothic type. 

A few years ago there were in the hands of collectors and dealers in 
Boston, a number of the ten cent stamps which differed in perforation from 
the regular issue. The gauge ranged from n to i^j4 and there were often 
three different perforations on a stamp. The copies were all on pelure paper 
and all had the perforations much closer to the design than usual, often 
cutting the outer white line. They were said to have been purchased from 
" a reliable person who stated that he bought them from the Post Office 
Department." Personally, I believe these perforations to be of a private 
nature, but I give the information of their existence for what it is worth. 

The report of the Postmaster General, dated November 15th, 1869, 

says : 

Use of stamps ; ' The issue of periodical stamps was discontinued by my predecessor 

discontinued. abom ^ ,. 

No reason is given for this action nor any further information on the 
subject. We do not know whether such of the stamps as were in the hands 
of postmasters were used up or returned to Washington. 
statistics of During the time the stamps were in use the following quantities were 

received by the Post Office Department from the contractors : 

5 cents 10 cents. 25 cents. 

1865 10,040 20,040 5,040 

1866 38,230 120,230 10,230 

1867 30,000 95,000 

1868 55,220 140,020 31,080 

1869 10,200 25,200 100 

Total 143,690 400,490 46,450 

Deliveries to The annual reports of the Postmaster General furnish the following 

postmasters. statistics of deliveries to deputy postmasters : 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1866 : 
Quarter Ending : 
Sept. 50, 1805. Dec. 31, 1805. Men. 31, 1866. June 30, 1866. Total. 

5 cents io, 000 io 10,130 20,140 

10 cents 10,000 10,010 20,130 40,140 

25 cents 5.000 10 130 5,'4° 

Whole number of stamps 65,420. Value $6,306.00. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1867 : 
Quarter Ending : 

Sept. 30, 1866. Dec. 31, 1S60. Mch. 31, 1867. June 30, 1867. Total. 

5 cents 10,000 10,000 20,000 40,000 

10 cents 30,000 20,000 50,000 100,000 

25 cents 5,000 5,000 

Whole number of stamps 145,000. Value $13,250.00. 



NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. — ISSUE OF T865. 293 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1868 : 
Quarter Ending : 
Sept. jo, 1867. Dec. 31, 1867. Mch. 31, 1868. June 30, 1868. Total. 

5 cents 10,000 10,000 20,000 40,000 

10 cents 20,000 25,000 20,000 50,000 115,000 

25 cents 5,000 5,000 

Whole number of stamps 160,000. Value $14,750. 00. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1869 : 
Quarter Ending : 
Sept. 30, 1868. Dec. 31, 1868. Mch. 31, 1869. June 30, 1869. Total. 

5 cents 15,200 10,020 10,200 35,420 

io cents 45, too 25,020 25,200 95,320 

25 cents 15,060 5,020 100 20,180 

Whole number of stamps 150,920. Value $16,348.00. 

The reprints of this and succeeding issues of newspaper stamps will Reju-iuts. 

be described in a chapter devoted to that subject. 

Counterfeits of these stamps are occasionally seen and some of them 
are rather dangerous. They are made by photolithography. They usually Counterfeits. 
appear blurred, especially in the white lathe-work surrounding the medallions. 
They are too small, measuring 48^ to 50^111111. by 92^ to 94^111111. The 
perforation is nearly always incorrect, n, \i}4 or 12}^. 



Newspaper and Periodical Stamps. 

Issue of 1875. 

From 1 F69 to 1874 inclusive the postage on newspapers and periodicals 
was again collected in money. From the report of the Postmaster General, 
dated November 14th, 1873, it is apparent that this system was both unsatis- 
factory and unprofitable. He says : 

" In my report for i860 I had the honor to suggest a plan for (he prepayment of 

postage on newspapers and other matter of the second class by we ght of packages, rather 

System s 11 sue si ed than by the present system, which requires the manipulation of each particular paper and 

by the Postmaster allows the payment of postage at either the mailing office or the office of delivery. A careful 

General. revision of the subject confirms me in the opinion that the postage on all such matters should 

be collected in advance al the mailing office. Collections are now made with great difficulty, 

and there is no provision whatever by which dishonesty or negligence can be detected. No 

stamps are used for the payment of such postage, and the Department is compelled to accept 

in full satisfaction whatever sums of money postmasters choose to charge against themselves. 

So execrably bad is this system that postal officers of high standing have estimated that not 

more than one-third of the postage properly chargeable on newspapers is accounted for and 

paid over." 

The suggestions of the Postmaster General were duly considered by 
Congress and resulted in an Act, approved June 23rd, 1874, which provided : 

"Section 5. That on and after the first day of January, 187.5, a " newspapers and 
periodical publications, mailed from a known office of publication or news agency and 
Plnn authorized addressed to regular subscribers or news agents, shall be charged the following rates : 
by Congress. Cm newspapers and periodical publications issued weekly and more frequently than 

once a week, two cents for each pound or fraction thereof, and on those issued less frequently 
than once a week three cents for each pound or fraction thereof; Provided that nothing in 
this Act shall be held to change or amend Section 90 of the Act entitled : ' An Act to revise, 
consolidate and amend the statutes relating to the Post Office Department,' approved June 
8th, 1872. 

Section 6. That on and after the first day of January, 1875, upon the receipt of such 
newspapers and periodical publications at the office of mailing, they shall be weighed in 
bulk, and the postage paid thereon by a special adhesive stamp, to be devised and furnished 
by the Postmaster General ; which shall be affixed to such matter or to the sack containing 
the same, or upon a memorandum of such mailing, or otherwise as the Postmaster General 
may from time to time provide by regulation." 

The stamps were first sent out to postmasters on December nth, 1874 
and went into use on January 1st, 1875. 

In the report of the Third Assistant Postmaster General, dated Novem- 
ber 15th, 1875, we find further interesting details concerning the stamps, the 
manner of using them and the success of the system : 

" On the first day of January, 187s, the new law requiring prepayment of postage by 

stamps on all newspapers and periodicals, sent from a known office of publication to regular 

System found subscribers through the mails, went into operation. The system inaugurated to carry the law 

satisfactory. into effect was approved by you in October, 1874, and has been found by experience to be 



NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF I 875. 295 

admirably adapted to the purpose for which it was devised. No complaints of abuses on the 
part of publishers or postmasters have been received at this office during the nine months 
that have elapsed since the law went into effect. Indeed, it has worked so well in all its 
details, and has given such general satisfaction, that the idea of returning to the old system, 
or materially modifying the new one, ought not lo be entertained. 

Previous to the time when this law began to operate, no stamps were required for the 
payment of postage on newspapers sent to regular subscribers, as the postage was collected 
in money quaiterly at the office of delivery. Last year there were 35,000 post offices at 
which newspaper postage was collected, while under the present tiue system of the absolute 
prepayment of all postages, the whole amount is collected at about 3,400 offices, the latter 
representing the number of places in the United States at which newspapers and periodicals 
are mailed. 

The papers for subscribers living outside of the county in which they are published 
are made up in bulk at the publication office, carried to the post office, and there weighed. 
The postage is computed on the whole issue, the proper amount in stamps handed to the Manner of using 
postmaster, who gives the publisher a receipt as evidence of payment, and on the stubs of the stamps. 

the receipt book he affixes and cancels the stamps, which correspond in value with the sum 
mentioned in the receipt. Thus, one transaction is all that is required in paying the post- 
age upon a single issue of any regular publication The stubs with their cancelled stamps 
are kept in the post office, as vouchers for the postage paid. In no case are the stamps 
affixed to the papers or packages that pass through the mails. 

These stamps are twenty-four in rumber, and were prepared by the Continental Bank 
Note Company, of New York, from designs selected in October, 1874. The denominations 
are as follows, viz.: 2 cents, 3 cents, 4 cents, 6 cents, 8 cents, 9 cents, 10 cents, 12 cents, Reason for the 
24 cents, 36 cents, 48 cents, 60 cents, 72 cents, 84 cents, 06 cents, $1.92, $3, $6, $9, $12, various denoini- 
$24, $}6, $48 and $60. These denominations were found to be necessary, in order that nations. 

payment might be made on any given quantity from one pound to one ton, at both the two 
and three cent rate, with the use of not to exceed five stamps in any transaction." 

At first it was required to cancel the stamps with a punch but after- 
wards various forms of post office " killers " and even pen cancellations were Cancellation. 
allowed to be used. The stubs with the cancelled stamps attached were sent, 
at regular intervals, to the Post Office Department at Washington and, after 
comparison with the accounts, were destroyed. 

The following is the official description of the designs: 
1,2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9 and 10 Cents. Emblematical figure of America, 
looking to the right and modeled after Crawford's statue upon the dome of 
the Capitol. The left hand rests on a shield and holds a wreath; the right Designs and colors, 
grasps a sword. The head is adorned with a coronet of stars, surmounted by 
an eagle's head. The vignette stands in an arched frame, and at the sides 
and top are slabs containing the inscriptions: " newspapers " on the left, 
"periodicals" on the right, and " u. s. postage " at the top. At the 
bottom are shaded capitals representing the value, which is also indicated by 
large figures in the upper corners. The lower corners are ornamented by 
shields. The color of these stamps is black. 

12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84 and 96 Cents. Vignette of Astraea, or 
Justice, in niche, curved at the top, holding in her right hand the balance, 
and resting with her left on a shield bearing the United States coat of arms. 
The figure is full-robed, mailed and girdled as to the upper part, and helmet- 
ed. Surmounting the helmet is an eagle with outstretched wings. Figures 
representing values on shields in upper corners, values also in sunken letters 
below, richly ornamented. Inscriptions on sides and at top in shaded capitals 
on lined ground. Color, pink. 

One Dollar and Ninety-two Cents. Vignette of Ceres, Goddess 
of Agriculture, in curved niche. She holds in her left hand an ear of corn; 
her right, holding a wreath, rests against the hip. The figure faces to the 



296 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1875. 

front, and is clad in full, flowing robes. " u. s. postage" at the top; otheT 
inscriptions in italic letters on obelisks at either side, resting on the lower 
slab, containing value in white capitals. Value also in figures in upper 
corners. Color, deep brown. 

Three Dollars Goddess of Victory, in curved niche, full robed, 
girded, with sword to the left, and mantel thrown over shoulders. The right 
hand is stretched forward, holding a wreath; the left rests on a shield. 
Figures of value in upper corners; value below in letters, on either side of a 
large figure "3 ". Inscriptions in solid labels, on either side, and on lined 
ground above. Color, vermilion. 

Six Dollars. Clio, the Muse of History, in curved niche, full-robed, 
the toga thrown over the left shoulder. In her right hand she holds a stylus; 
in the left, a tablet. Figures of value in upper corners, surrounded by curved 
ornaments. Inscriptions in white shaded letters on sides, and above in dark 
letters, on lined ground. Color, light blue. 

Nine Dollars. Minerva, the Goddess of Wisdom, full-robed, in 
curved niche. The left hand is placed across her breast, holding a portion 
of her toga ; the right is grasping a spear. Figures of value in upper corners. 
Inscriptions on sides in shaded italics, and above in small letters on lined 
ground. Value also in letters below on scroll. Beneath is a large "9", in 
curved ornaments. Color, orange. 

Twelve Dollars. Vesta, the Goddess of the Fireside, full-robed, in 
curved niche. The left hand lifts her drapery ; the right holds a burning 
lamp. Figures of value in upper corners on tablets ; value also in letters on 
beaded frame beneath. Inscriptions in solid italic letters on sides, and in 
small white letters above. Color, rich green. 

Twenty-four Dollars. Goddess of Peace, in curved niche — a half- 
naked figure, leaning against a broken column. She holds in her left hand 
an olive branch, while the right grasps three arrows. The value is in words 
beneath, on a solid tablet ; also in figures, in ornamented curves, in upper 
corners. Inscriptions in white shaded letters above and on sides, between 
which latter and each upper corner is a large, six-pointed star. Color, pur- 
plish slate. 

Thirty-six Dollars. Figure representing Commerce, in full gar- 
ments, in curved niche. She holds in her left hand the caduceus, the winged 
rod of Mercury ; in her right, a miniature ship. Figures of value in upper 
corners and in ornamented capitals below. Inscriptions, also in ornamented 
capitals, on sides and above. Color, dull red 

Forty-eight Dollars. Hebe, the Goddess of Youth, partly draped, 
in curved niche. The right hand holds a cup, which she is offering to the 
eagle, around whose neck is thrown her left hand. Figures of value on shields 
in upper corners, the word " postage " between ; value also in letters below, 
in curved ornaments. The letters " u. s.", in circles, between upper corners 
and side inscriptions, the latter being in curved labels. Color, light brown. 

Sixty Dollars. Vignette of an Indian maiden, standing in a rec- 
tangular frame. She is robed from her waist downward. Her right arm is 



NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1875. 



297 



extended while her left hangs by her side. The background is a landscape, 
trees and vines to the left, and wigwams to the right in the distance. Figures 
of value on shields in upper corners ; value also in white letters on solid tablet 
below. Inscriptions in white, on solid labels, above and on sides. Color, 
rich purple. 

The stamps measure 24^X35rrim. 

The paper is thin, hard and slightly transparent. A few values are 
occasionally seen on a paper which is thicker and more opaque. The two 
and three cents are also found on ribbed paper. The gum is thin and smooth, 
usually yellowish but sometimes almost white. The perforation has the 
normal guage, 12. 

The stamps are found in the following shades and varieties : 

Perforated 12. 
White Wove Paper. 

2 cents black, gray-black, greenish black 

3 cents black, gray-black 

4 cents black, gray-black, greenish black 
6 cents black, gray-black 

8 cents black, gray-black, greenish black 

9 cents black, gray-black, greenish black 
10 cents black, gray-black, greenish black 

12 cents pale rose, rose, lilac-rose, deep lilac-rose, violet- 
rose 
24 cents pale rose, rose, lilac-rose, deep lilac-rose, violet- 
rose 
36 cents pale rose, rose, lilac-rose, deep lilac-rose 
48 cents rose, lilac-rose, deep lilac-rose 
60 cents rose, lilac-rose, deep lilac-rose 
72 cents rose, lilac-rose, deep lilac-rose 
84 cents rose, lilac-rose 
96 cents rose, lilac-rose, deep lilac-rose 
1.92 cents bistre-brown, dark brown 
3 dollars vermilion, orange-vermilion 
6 dollars ultramarine, dull ultramarine 
9 dollars yellow 
1 2 dollars blue-green 
v 24 dollars dark gray-violet 
36 dollars rose-brown 
48 dollars vermilion-brown 
60 dollars red-violet 

Varieties : 

2 cents black, Imperforate 

3 cents black 

4 cents black 
6 cents black 
8 cents black 



Paper. 



Reference List. 



298 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF I 875. 

9 cents black Imperforate 

10 cents black 
12 cents bright rose 
24 cents bright rose 
36 cents bright rose 
48 cents bright rose 
60 cents bright rose' 
72 cents bright rose 
84 cents bright rose 
96 cents bright rose 
192 cents dark brown 

3 dollars vermilion 

6 dollars ultramarine " 

9 dollars yellow " 
12 dollars blue-green 

24 dollars dark gray-violet " 
36 dollars rose-brown 
48 dollars vermilion-brown " 
60 dollars red-violet " 

Horizontally Ribbed Paper. 

2 cents black 

3 cents black 

The plates each contained one hundred stamps, arranged in ten rows 
of ten. Before delivery the sheets were divided horizontally into half sheets 
riaiei,. of fifty stamps. The imprint was "Engraved and printed by the — Con- 

tinental Bank Note Co., New York ", in two lines of white Roman 
capitals, on a panel with beaded edge and surrounded by a thin colored line. 
The imprint was placed above the two stamps in the middle of the top row 
and below the corresponding stamps of the bottom row. There were no 
imprints at the sides, merely three lines forming an arrow head and marking 
the line at which the sheet should be divided. Numbers were assigned to all 
the plates but they do not appear on sheets of the lower values (I have not 
been able to see sheets of the higher values) and probably were not engraved 
on any of the plates, at least not on the face. Sheets from one of the plates 
of the two cents show a script figure " 2 " above the eighth stamp of the top 
row ; and certain sheets of the three cents bear, above the seventh stamp of 
the same row, a large Roman capital " B ", white faced and heavily shaded. 
The numbers assigned to the plates were : 
Plate numbers. 2 cents No. 200, 2 1 8B. 

3 cents No. 206, 23^, 233B. 

4 cents No. 2 15. 
6 cents No. 216. 

8 cents No. 2 13. 

9 cents No. 21 1. 

10 cents No. 217. 
1 2 cents No. 195. 
24 cents No. 198. 



NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1 875 . 



> 99 



36 cents 
48 cents 
60 cents 
72 cents 
84 cents 
96 cents 
192 cents 
3 dollars 
6 dollars 
9 dollars 
12 dollars 
24 dollars 
36 dollars 
48 dollars 
60 dollars 



No. 196 
No. 203 
No. 202 
No. 201 
No. 205 
No. 204 
No. 207 
No. 199 
No. 197 
No. 194 
No. 214 
No. 209 
No. 212 
No. 210 
No. 208 



These stamps are found surcharged with the word " Specimen " in 
gothic type. This surcharge is of two sizes ; one is similar to the well-known "Specimens." 
surcharge on the stamps of the 1 86 1 issue, while the other is smaller. 

I have only been able to secure incomplete statistics of the quantities 

of these stamps received by the Stamp Agent from the contractors. During statistics of 
,,,-,,, , , , . . manufacture. 

the first three years of manufacture the quantities were : 

Year Ending December 31ST : 



2 cents 

3 cents 

4 cents 
6 cents 

8 cents 

9 cents 
10 cents 
1 2 cents 
24 cents 
36 cents 
48 cents 
60 cents 
72 cents 
84 cents 
96 cents 

192 cents 

3 dollars 

6 dollars 

9 dollars 

i 2 dollars 

24 dollars 

36 dollars 

48 dollars 

60 dollars 



.874. 

975,000 

975,000 

792,000 

775,000 

1 98,000 

200,000 

188,000 

200,000 

197,000 

100,000 

ico, 000 

100,000 

100,000 

100,000 

100,000 

20,000 

40,000 

20,000 

20,000 

20,OCO 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 



Total, 5,240,000 



1875. 


— 




90 


,000 






















•9 


,500 


5,000 






114 


500 



1876. 


Total. 


175,000 


1,150,000 




975,000 





702,000 




775,000 


180,000 


378,000 


35,000 


235,000 


125,000 


403,000 


175,000 


375>° 00 


175,000 


372,000 


45,000 


145,000 


40,000 


140,000 


40,000 


140,000 


40,000 


140,000 


40,000 


140,000 


40,000 


140,000 


90,000 


129,500 


88,000 


128,000 


62,500 


82,500 


9.5°° 


29,500 


8,500 


28,500 


9,5°° 


i9>5°° 


18,500 


23.5 o 


9,5°° 


14,500 


*3>5 00 


18,500 


1,419,500 


6,774,000 



NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1875. 



Deliveries to 
postmasters. 



The annual reports of the Postmaster General furnish the 
statistics of quantities supplied to deputy postmasters: 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1875: 
Quarter Ending: 

Sept. 30, 1874. Dec. 31, 1874. Mch. 31, 1875. June 30, 1875 

2 cents 470,700 69,795 49,060 

3 cents •• 260,800 33.93° 23,365 

4 cents 272,900 26,600 25,665 

6 cents i73> 2 5° 27,345 25,380 

8 cents 51,250 14,000 i4>4°5 

9 cents 29,000 7>5 20 5> 2I ° 

10 cents 89,150 28,610 32,410 

12 cents 84,400 22,340 19,785 

24 cents _ 53,75° 20,845 17,820 

36 cents '8,300 12,280 8,585 

48 cents 17,700 10,940 8,190 

60 cents 21,750 10,675 1 ',381 

72 cents 5,700 7,025 6,725 

84 cents , 4,95° 6,850 5,957 

96 cents 12,750 10,505 9,910 

192 cents , 4,225 9,500 6,337 

3 dollars 6,969 6,768 7,222 

6 dollars 2,585 3,544 3,173 

9 dollars 1,151 2,611 1,606 

12 dollars ',35° ' 2,548 2,184 

24 dollars ........ 554 r ,59° ',046 

36 dollars 319 1,009 343 

48 dollars 191 831 305 

60 dollars 376 640 780 

Whole number of stamps 2,209,215. Value $815,902.47. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1876 
Quarter Ending : 

Sept. 30, 1875. Dec. 31, 1875. Men. 31, 1876. June 30, 1876. 

2 cents 60,955 59,675 78,265 64,770 

3 cents 23,085 21,470 27,600 23,780 

4 cents 3°,495 28,030 35,75° 3 I > 8 5° 
6 cents 3 2 ,3 2 5 25,905 34,57° 32,785 

8 cents 14,920 12,515 20,940 16,440 

9 cents 5>9 2 ° 3,630 6,680 6,420 
10 cents 3 T ,52o 3 2 ,5 ° 44,3 2 o 38,070 
12 cents 20,770 22,555 25,995 24,580 
24 cents 16,830 18,335 22,925 22,960 
36 cents 8,025 9,25° 11,875 h, io 5 
48 cents 6,975 8,065 10,260 9,565 
60 cents 6,025 6,475 10,53° 9,280 
72 cents 2,430 2,550 5,825 4,915 
84 cents 2,790 3,185 5,045 4,570 



following 



Total. 
589,555 
3 l8 ,°95 
325,165 

225,975 

79,655 

41,73° 

150,170 

126,525 

92,415 
39,165 
36,830 
43,806 

19,45° 

17,757 

33,i65 

20,062 

20,959 

9,3° 2 

5,368 

6,082 

3> T 9° 
1,671 

',3 2 7 

1,796 



Total-. 
263,665 

95,935 
126,125 

i 2 5,585 
64,815 
22,650 

146,410 
93,900 
81,050 
4°,255 
34,865 
32,310 
15,720 
'5,595 



NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. — ISSUE OF ] 875. 



9,940 
5,215 

6,3 l 9 
J ,673 
1,424 
1,672 

404 

5i5 

96 

648 

Whole number of stamps 1,290,347. Value $945,254.75. 
Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1877 
Quarter Ending : 



96 cents 


1 r,46o 


192 cents 


6,290 


3 dollars 


6,719 


6 dollars 


3,799 


9 dollars 


2,57' 


1 2 dollars 


2,219 


24 dollars 


1,636 


36 dollars 


5 2 9 


48 dollars 


333 


60 dollars 


691 



h. 31, 1876 


. June 30, 1876 


Total. 


11,300 


10,695 


43,39° 


7,o5o 


6,415 


24,970 


7,204 


5,874 


26,1 16 


3,682 


2,92 1 


12,075 


1,781 


. 1,576 


7,352 


2,078 


1,884 


7,853 


588 


762 


3,390 


439 


618 


2,TOI 


232 


513 


1,174 


807 


900 


3,049 





Sept. 30, 1876. 


Dec. 31, 1871 


5. Mch. 31, 1877. 


June 30, 1877. 


Total. 


2 cents 


73,655 


66,5 10 


72,180 


7',57o 


283,9'5 


3 cents 


26,980 


23,600 


27,360 


27,170 


105,110 


4 cents 


35,48o 


32,680 


33,095 


38,040 


J 39, 2 95 


6 cents 


3 r ,345 


28,210 


29,560 


32,265 


121,380 


8 cents 


19,210 


16,095 


16,865 


20,675 


72,845 


9 cents 


6,2 10 


4,33° 


5,53° 


6,240 


22,310 


10 cents 


42,t45 


37,955 


42,170 


46,410 


168,680 


12 cents 


26,640 


2 2,495 


25,630 


24,165 


98,930 


24 cents 


23,005 


19,780 


23,160 


20,815 


86,760 


36 cents 


",385 


10,510 


1 1,080 


12,470 


45,445 


48 cents 


9, 6 95 


9,435 


10,365 


■0,315 


39,810 


60 cents 


9,119 


8,95° 


11,446 


9,705 


39,220 


72 cents 


4,510 


4,460 


5,205 


5,250 


19,452 


84 cents 


3,645 


4,285 


5,555 


4,'95 


17,680 


96 cents 


9,190 


9,740 


10,570 


9,605 


39>'°5 


192 cents 


7,005 


5-275 


7,575 


5,7i5 


25,57o 


3 dollars 


6,746 


6,059 


6,333 


6,215 


25,353 


6 dollars 


3,207 


2,926 


2,867 


3,432 


12,432 


9 dollars 


i,544 


',9 2 3 


1,384 


2,234 


7,085 


12 dollars 


1,978 


2,160 


i,55' 


2,260 


7,949 


24 dollars 


926 


986 


735 


738 


3,385 


36 dollars 


409 


557 


668 


499 


2,i33 


48 dollars 


289 


289 


423 


i 9 t 


1,192 


60 dollars 


853 


949 


998 


900 


3,7oo 


Whole number of st 


amps 1,388, 


709. Value $1, 


000,605.10. 




Stam 


ps issued durin 


g the fiscal 


year ending June 30th, 1878 : 








Quarter 


Ending : 








Sept 30, 1 877 . 


Dec- 31, 1 877 


-. Mch. 31, 1878. 


June 30, 1878. 


Total. 


2 cents 


84,575 


63,740 


104,210 


75,265 


327,790 


3 cents 


32,100 


24,260 


43,5 to 


29,050 


128,920 


4 cents 


45,335 


3r,6oo 


52,810 


35,99° 


165,735 


6 cents 


4o,475 


27,120 


44,230 


33,055 


144,880 


8 cents 


25,090 


18,565 


25,650 


20,115 


89,420 



302 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1875. 

Sept, 30, 1877. Dec. 31, 1877. Mch. 31, 1878. June 30, 1878. Total 

9 cents 7,730 5,190 7,450 4,620 24,990 

10 cents 54,285 42,005 64,775 47,705 208,770 

12 cents 3 2 >5 8 ° 20,720 35>°35 23,220 m,555 

24 cents 26,855 17,49° 3°,33° 20,455 oS,^ 

36 cents 12,35° 9,995 i5,45o 10,690 48,485 

48 cents 9,985 7,295 14,045 7,64° 3 8 ,9 6 S 

60 cents 11,490 9,335 12,820 8,615 42,260 

72 cents 4,945 4,955 8,070 3,945 21,915 

84 cents 6,210 4,910 6,345 4,520 21,985 

96 cents 12,210 7,870 14,040 8,815 42,935 

192 cents 8,250 5,980 9,575 5,475 29,280 

3 dollars 7,220 6,219 8,317 5,499 27,255 

6 dollars 3,686 2,741 3,165 3,763 12,355 

9 dollars 2,336 1,269 M49 T ,53° 6,584 

7 2 dollars 2,783 1,802 1,882 2,033 8,500 

24 dollars 973 1,232 648 1,177 4,° 2 9 

36 dollars 825 599 377 470 2,271 

48 dollars 660 325 253 540 1,778 

60 dollars 961 960 872 998 3,79 1 

Whole number of stamps, 1,609,578. Value, $1,093,845.30. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1879: 
Quarter Ending: 
Sept. 30, 1878. Dec. 31, 1878. Mch. 31, 1879. June 30, 1879. Total. 

2 cents 75,335 75,45° 84,980 87,600 323,365 

3 cents 29,190 30,240 29,530 13,730 102,690 

4 cents 40,380 39, 1 15 43,385 46,900 169,780 
6 cents 36,185 3°,9°5 34,455 33, 810 135,355 

8 cents 21,545 23,295 22,990 24,020 91,850 

9 cents 6,750 6,260 6,230 2,340 21,580 

10 cents 5°,6i5 49,565 5 2 ,39o 52,135 204,705 

12 cents 25,310 25,095 26,190 26,240 102,835 

24 cents 22,210 22,195 23,81 5 24,600 92,820 

36 cents 11,710 12,180 12,730 11,985 48,605 

48 cents 9, 165 9,660 9,770 9,895 38,490 

60 cents 10,065 10,950 ' T ,° r 5 10,180 42,210 

72 cents 5,105 5,655 6,365 4,995 22,120 

84 cents 4,545 3,825 5,105 5,465 18,490 

96 cents 12,820 8,835 ^^o 11,240 44,245 

192 cents 6,775 6 »°55 7, 1! 5 6,408 26,353 

3 dollars 6,566 5,931 7,583 6,662 26,742 

6 dollars 3,142 2,558 3,634 2,583 11,917 

9 dollars 1,962 2,756 2,416 1,680 7,814 

12 dollars 2,131 1,570 2,819 T ,75 2 8,272 

24 dollars 836 665 1,231 849 3,581 

36 dollars 663 320 781 346 2,113 

48 dollars 455 274 528 198 i,45° 

60 dollars 1,148 927 1,167 1,098 4,34° 

Whole number of stamps, 1,552,172. Value, $r, 088, 412, 16. 



Newspaper and Periodical Stamps. 



Issue of 1879. 

In February, 1879, when the leading banknote companies of New 
York City were consolidated under the name of the American Bank Note 
Co., the new corporation assumed the contract of the Continental Bank Note 
Co. for the manufacture of postage stamps. In printing the stamps for news- 
papers and periodicals the American Bank Note Co. used the plates of its 
predecessor and did not make any new plates, with the exception of a plate 
for the one cent value which will be described hereafter. For the two and 
three cent stamps plates 2i8B and 233B, respectively, were employed, the 
other plates of those values having been previously retired from use. 

By an Act of Congress, approved March 3rd, 1879, the postage on 
newspapers and periodicals was fixed at the uniform rate of two cents per 
pound. 

In connection with this change the following official circular was sent 

to postmasters: 

Post Office Department. 

Office of the Third Assistant Postmaster General. 

Division of Postage Stamps, Stamped Envelopes & Post Cards. 

Washington, D. C, April 25, 1879. 
The attention of Postmasters is hereby called to the fact that, on and after the first of 
May proximo, under the act of March 3d, 1879, matter of the second class, commonly 
known as newspaper and periodical matter, will be entitled to pass through the mail at a 
uniform rate of 2 cents per pound. Care will be taken not to collect payment on such matter 
at more than that rate. The same general regulations concerning the collection of news- 
paper postage, as have been heretofore promulgated, will remain in force and the same books 
and blanks, together with the newspaper and periodical stamps that are now outstanding, 
will continue to be used. In future, however, the issue of the three and nine cents denomina- 
tions of newspaper and periodical stamps will be discontinued. 

A. D. Hazen, 

Third Assistant Postmaster General. 

The rate of postage on printed matter of the second class, when sent 

through the mails by publishers and news agents, was reduced to one cent 

per pound by Act of Congress, approved March 3rd, 1885. This rate went 

into effect on July 1st, 1885, and necessitated the issue of a one cent stamp. 

On this subject the report of the Third Assistant Fostmaster General, dated 

November 18th, 1885, says: 

" To provide for wants that were certain to arise from the change in the rate of post- 
age on newspapers and periodicals sent by publishers and news agents to actual subscribers, 
authorized by the act of Congress of March 3, 1885, the Department began issuing, on the 



Change of 
contractors. 



Kate of postage 
reduced. 



Circular to 
post masters. 



Rate of postage 
again reduced. 



One cent stamp. 



304 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF I 879. 

3d of June, 1885, newspaper and periodical postage stamps of the denomination of 1 cent, 
tor use after July 1, 1885. This new denomination is of the same design and color as the 
stamps of the denominations from 2 to 10 cents in the same series ; the only difference is in 
the numeral and the word indicating the value." 

For this new value only one plate was made. Like the plates of the 
series made by the Continental Bank Note Co., it contained one hundred 
Plate. stamps, arranged in ten rows of ten stamps each. At the time of perforating ) 

the printed sheets were divided horizontally into half sheets of fifty stamps. 
The imprint appears four times on each sheet, that is to say, at the middle of 
the top, bottom and each side. It is "American bank note company, new 
york." in very small colored Roman capitals, K'lim high. The inscription 
is but 33 ^mm. long, thus extending only partly over two stamps. It is not 
on a panel, as is customary, and is entirely without ornamental surroundings. 
Plate number. Above the imprint at the top of the plate is " No. 4S2 ", in slanting letters and 
numerals, 2mm high. 

The paper is the thick, soft, porous paper that was used for all issues 
made by this company. The gum varies from brownish yellow to white. 
The perforation is, as usual, 12. 

In the course of time the shades of the lower values changed to a con- 
siderable extent. The colors and shades are: 

Reference List. Perforated 12. 

Thick Soft Porous Wove Paper. 

1 cent black, deep black, gray-black 

2 cents black, deep black, gray black, greenish black 

3 cents black, deep black, gray-black 

4 cents black, deep black, gray-black, greenish black 
6 cents black, deep black, gray-black 

8 cents black, deep black, gray-black 
10 cents black, deep black, gray-black, greenish black 
12 cents pale brown-red, brown-red, pale carmine, rose- 
carmine, carmine, dark carmine, brown-carmine, 
lake 
24 cents pale brown-red, brown-red, pale carmine, rose- 
carmine, carmine dark carmine, brown-carmine, 
lake, violet-rose 
36 cents brown-red, rose-carmine, dark carmine, violet- 
rose 
48 cents pale brown-red, brown-red, dark carmine, lake, 

violet-rose 
60 cents pale brown red, brown-red, rose-carmine, dark 

carmine, violet-rose 
72 cents brown-red, dark carmine, lake 
84 cents brown-red, rose-carmine, dark carmine, violet- 
rose 
96 cents brown-red, rose-carmine, dark carmine 
192 cents yellow-brown, brown, dark brown 

3 dollars carmine-vermilion, deep carmine-vermilion 



NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 305 

6 dollars blue, dark blue, chalky blue 

9 dollars yellow-orange, orange 
12 dollars deep green, deep yellow-green, blue-green' 
24 dollars dark violet 

36 dollars dull rose, brown-rose, Indian red 
48 dollars orange brown, deep orange-brown 
60 dollars pale purple, purple deep purple 

Variety: 
60 cents dull brown-red. Imperforate. 
On page 285 will be found a letter of the Third Assistant Postmaster 
General, recommending the destruction of certain obsolete postage stamps, Suggested destruc- 
of which a tabular statement is given. This table includes some newspaper tlon °} umssued 

r ' stamps. 

and periodical stamps, viz.: 

3 cents 223,750 

9 cents 101,240 

A committee was appointed to carry out the suggested destruction. 
On referring to page 288 it will be seen that, in due course, the committee 
reported the destruction of the official stamps and the uncurrent stamps of 
the regular issue but made no mention of any others. We may, therefore, 
conclude that, at that time, the newspaper and periodical stamps escaped, 
though it is probable that, at a later date, those of the nine cent denomina- 
tion were destroyed. 

The three cent stamp was again brought into use in the last quarter 
of the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1885, but the nine cents was not again Three cent stamp 
revived, as will be seen by referring to the accompanying tables. a s aiu '" •>«'. 

On pages 152 and 153 reference was made to a series of stamps over- 
printed " specimen " in block capitals, which were intended for distribution 
to foreign countries through the Universal Postal Union. The stamps thus "Specimen" 
surcharged included the newspaper and periodical stamps, from one cent to stamps. 

sixty dollars. The nine cent stamp was of the Continental printing. The 
other values were the product of the American Bank Note Co. The de 
nominations from twelve to ninety-six cents inclusive were printed in brown- 
red. 

The following statistics of issues of the newspaper and periodical 
stamps have been compiled from the annual reports of the Postmaster General 
and certain other sources of information. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 3Cth, 1880: Deliveries to 

postmasters. 

Quarter Ending: 

Mch. 31, 1880. June 30, 1880. Total. 

97,640 124,220 422,185 

55> 6 55 68,260 240,795 

37,470 44,025 157, 150 

28410 34.240 "7,33° 

61,707 73, OI 9 2 59,5 26 

27,090 3 r > 2 9° H3,3 8 ° 





Sept. 30, 1879, 


Dec. 31, 18; 


2 cents 


100,620 


99,705 


4 cents 


57,325 


5 8 >555 


6 cents 


38,335 


37,3 2 ° 


8 cents 


27,750 


26,930 


10 cents 


62,965 


61,835 


12 cents 


28,035 


26,965 



306 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 





Sept. 30, 1879, 


Dec. 3 1 , 1879. 


Mch. 31, 1880. 


June 30, 1880. 


Total. 


24 cents 


26,900 


22,475 


26, 170 


3 ,405 


1 °5,95° 


36 cents 


15,890 


I2 , T 35 


i35 8 ° 


15,670 


57,275 


48 cents 


1 1,040 


9,620 


9.965 


iO,995 


41,620 


60 cents 


14,250 


10,820 


13,040 


!3>435 


5i,545 


72 cents 


7,640 


4,37o 


6,630 


7,005 


25,645 


84 cents 


6,405 


3,805 


6,485 


6,5 r 5 


23,210 


96 cents 


12,725 


1 1,910 


n,745 


14,010 


5°,39° 


192 cents 


7,94o 


6,810 


7,295 


7,675 


29,720 


3 dollars 


8,075 


5,9 6 4 


7,498 


7,5 82 


29,119 


6 dollars 


3,44i 


3,679 


3,606 


3,270 


13,996 


9 dollars 


2,138 


2,205 


i,595 


2,206 


8,144 


12 dollars 


2,161 


2,657 


1,851 


2,935 


9,604 


24 dollars 


i,o35 


939 


1,043 


1,291 


4.3o8 


36 dollars 


540 


452 


779 


55° 


2,321 


48 dollars 


35o 


421 


381 


753 


1,905 


60 dollars 


1,093 


T ,i53 


M53 


1,565 


4,964 


Whol 


e number of stamps, 1,770, 


082. Value $1 


,25 2 ,903-3°- 





Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1881: 
Quarter Ending: 



s 


ept. 30, 1880. 


Dec. 31, 1880. 


Mch. 31, 1881. 


June 30, i88t. 


Total. 


2 cents 


•03,675 


"4,295 


108,715 


111,615 


438,30° 


4 cents 


63,980 


69,185 


72,430 


7°,33° 


275,925 


6 cents 


39,79° 


44,410 


48,480 


44,865 


177,545 


8 cents 


3°,845 


34,27o 


36,300 


33,78o 


135, T 95 


10 cents 


69,945 


80,297 


81,411 


80,190 


3", 8 43 


12 cents 


28,715 


34,230 


39,630 


34,55° 


i37, I2 5 


24 cents 


27,050 


31,835 


35,39° 


33,37° 


127,645 


36 cents 


14,840 


17,54° 


17,225 


15,670 


65,275 


48 cents 


12,070 


12,050 


12,840 


12,35° 


49,3 ID 


60 cents 


1 2,585 


13,855 


16,250 


i5,78o 


58,47° 


72 cents 


6, 1 10 


7,635 


6,285 


8,410 


28,440 


84 cents 


4,975 


6,890 


7,090 


6,300 


25, 2 55 


96 cents 


",385 


14,285 


14,610 


13-57° 


53,85o 


192 cents 


6,855 


9,°55 


8,725 


7,88o 


32,S'5 


3 dollars 


6,472 


7,949 


8,626 


7,813 


30,860 


6 dollars 


2,989 


4,454 


4,009 


3,642 


i5> 94 


9 dollars 


2,043 


1,622 


2,875 


1,783 


8,323 


12 dollars 


2,428 


2,385 


2,894 


2,5°4 


10,21 1 


24 dollars 


932 


885 


9-38 


960 


3,7i5 


36 dollars 


34o 


752 


755 


653 


2,500 


48 dollars 


275 


601 


5'8 


456 


1,850 


60 dollars 


1,339 


2,082 


',723 


i,398 


6,542 


Whole 


number of stamps 1,995,7 


88. Value p 


,398,674.00. 





NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 307 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1882 : 
Quarter Ending : 





Sept. 30, 1881. 


Dec. 31, 188'. 


Mch. 31, ;882. 


June 30, 1882. 


Total. 


2 cents 


128,300 


'3', 77° 


HT.I45 


120,195 


491,410 


4 cents 


79.495 


80,320 


73,505 


79.745 


3'3,o65 


6 cents 


47, '7° 


52,33o 


48,160 


47,580 


195,240 


8 cents 


36,540 


37,595 


34,940 


37,955 


147,030 


10 cents 


89,620 


94,675 


84,665 


84,835 


353,795 


12 cents 


34,595 


37,47o 


39, U5 


37,43o 


148,640 


24 cents 


34,135 


37,425 


37,680 


37,270 


146,510 


36 cents 


18,790 


.8,580 


i8,535 


19,220 


75> I2 5 


48 cents 


12,795 


12,340 


'4,755 


12,445 


52,335 


60 cents 


16,070 


16,320 


17,765 


>5,M5 


65,30° 


72 cents 


6,180 


5,735 


7,43° 


7, '35 


26,480 


84 cents 


5,925 


4,840 


7,6io 


6,445 


24,820 


96 cents 


n,93° 


14,485 


13,905 


i3, 7o 


53,39o 


192 cents 


8,73° 


8,640 


8,200 


10,245 


35,8i5 


3 dollars 


7,9'7 


6,938 


9,292 


8,152 


32,299 


6 dollars 


4,186 


2,932 


4,387 


4,425 


15,93° 


9 dollars 


1,858 


1,484 


3,517 


1,716 


8,575 


.12 dollars 


2,700 


2,206 


3-555 


2,9'5 


",376 


24 dollars 


1,100 


787 


1,461 


1,297 


4,645 


36 dollars 


754 


483 


819 


627 


2,683 


48 dollars 


631 


37o 


395 


558 


',954 


60 dollars 


1,824 


2,306 


2,340 


2,006 


8,476 



Whole number of stamps 2,214,893. Value $1,602,069.70. 
Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1883 
Quarter Ending : 





Sept. 30, 1882. 


Dec. 31, 1882. 


Mch. 31, 1883. 


June 30, 1883. 


Total. 


2 cents 


106,220 


103,940 


'02,475 


101,025 


413,660 


4 cents 


74,245 


77,495 


77,210 


78,925 


307,875 


6 cents 


49,755 


50,700 


5 2 ,345 


5',5'o 


204,310 


8 cents 


36,995 


35,7oo 


37,35° 


36,385 


146,430 


10 cents 


84,820 


81,725 


85,410 


80,020 


33', 975 


12 cents 


39,550 


41,605 


37,995 


38,320 


157,470 


24 cents 


4', 765 


4', 695 


43,630 


40,750 


167,840 


36 cents 


2', 335 


20,945 


22,245 


2',5'5 


86,040 


48 cents 


14,035 


16,700 


'5,975 


15,885 


62,595 


60 cents 


'6,570 


17,725 


18,465 


i9,'38 


7',898 


72 cents 


8,070 


9,210 


8,650 


9,525 


35,455 


84 cents 


7,140 


7,145 


7,385 


7,290 


28,960 


96 cents 


12,630 


17,405 


'5,525 


16,405 


61,965 


192 cents 


7,645 


1 1,890 


8,990 


9,405 


37,930 


3 dollars 


7,4i8 


8,882 


9,701 


9,142 


35, '43 


6 dollars 


3,74o 


4,755 


4,087 


4,560 


17,142 


9 dollars 


1,901 


3,039 


2,422 


2,632 


9,994 



308 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF I 879. 

Sept. 30, 1882. Dec. 31, 1882. Mch. 31, 1883. June 30, 1883. Total. 

12 dollars 2,531 2,963 2,958 2,855 ^,3°7 

24 dollars >,4'7 ',°79 1,306 ',803 5,605 

36 dollars 807 666 666 946 3>°&5 

48 dollars 563 435 503 648 2,149 

60 dollars 2,317 2,072 2,266 2,456 9,n' 
Whole number of stamps 2,207,939. Value $1,752,564.50. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1884 : 

Quarter Ending : 

Sept. 30, 1883. Dec. 31, 1883. Mch. 31, 1884. June 30, 1884. Total. 

2 cents 112,480 118,620 119,420 118,660 469,180 
4 cents 85,595 86,830 94,825 88,525 355,775 
6 cents 59,795 49,885 64,420 53,°35 227,135 

8 cents 45. 8l ° 39,225 48,865 39,620 i73,5 2 o 
10 cents 90,290 78,795 95»3 6 5 94,685 359,135 
12 cents 43, 310 41,110 41,845 39>5 8 5 165,850 
24 cents 42,700 40,165 47,545 42,3 2 5 172,735 
36 cents 24,885 20,605 26,130 22,5 * 5 94> T 35 
48 cents 15,555 16,105 17,685 15,625 65,970 
60 cents 18,250 x 8,235 22,195 19,880 78,560 
72 cents 7,795 8,855 11,965 8,815 37,43° 
84 cents 5,800 9,430 7,950 8,330 31,5^° 
96 cents 15,980 '7,37° 17,295 I 5»9 6 5 66,610 

192 cents 8,370 1 1,245 11,070 9,380 40,065 

3 dollars 7,696 10,978 8,708 8,559 35,94* 
6 dollars 3,958 5,514 4,706 5,227 i9,4°5 

9 dollars 2,425 3,459 2,979 3,111 n,974 
12 dollars 2,520 3,797 3,374 3,507 13,198 
24 dollars 1,260 1,775 ] >73° '>° 2 5 5.79° 
36 dollars 614 i,o8r 1.053 857 3,605 
48 dollars 475 965 826 550 2,816 
60 dollars 1,711 2,926 2,687 2,235 9,559 

Whole number of stamps 2,439,898. Value $1,923,217.80. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1885 ■ 
Quarter Ending : 





Sept. 30, 1884. 


Dec. 31, 1884. 


Mch. 31, 1885. 


June 30, 1885. 


Total. 


1 cent 








178,180 


178,180 


2 cents 


118,240 


U4,i35 


1 19,010 


134,49° 


485,875 


3 cents 








22,730 


22,730 


4 cents 


86,335 


86,555 


91,200 


104,480 


368,570 


6 cents 


56,015 


53,5 6 ° 


57,080 


64,295 


23°,95° 


8 cents 


41,010 


38,975 


44,76o 


47,680 


172,425 


10 cents 


9',675 


92,690 


98,860 


104,320 


387,545 


12 cents 


40,425 


41,635 


42,53° 


55,915 


108,505 


24 cents 


44,850 


45>9°5 


44,190 


44,445 


179,39° 



NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 309 





Sept. 30, 1884. 


Dec. 31, 1884. 


Mch. 31, 1885. 


June 30, 1885. 


Total. 


36 cents 


22,705 


22,315 


25, '95 


18,040 


88,255 


48 cents 


17,870 


16,620 


18,760 


13,545 


66,795 


60 cents 


18,670 


20,080 


21,405 


15,260 


75,415 


72 cents 


9-745 


9,^5 


9,3°5 


7,33° 


35,545 


84 cents 


7,190 


6,830 


9,5i5 


6,570 


3°, io 5 


96 cents 


17,800 


16,770 


19,795 


M, 37° 


68,735 


192 cents 


j 1,010 


8,57° 


13,455 


8,250 


41,285 


3 dollars 


10,871 


7,9 6 7 


9,829 


9,612 


38,279 


6 dollars 


4,49 2 


4,094 


4,983 


4,479 


18,048 


9 dollars 


2,852 


2,658 


2,782 


3> o8 4 


",376 


12 dollars 


3,*47 


3,307 


3.441 


3,409 


i3,3 4 


24 dollars 


i,735 


1,528 


i,539 


i,747 


6,549 


36 dollars 


668 


790 


815 


820 


3,°93 


48 dollars 


43 2 


820 


724 


630 


2,606 


60 dollars 


3,106 


2,919 


3,200 


2 ,5 2 9 


n,754 



Whole number of stamps 2,717,314. Value $2,047,268.50. 
Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1886 : 
Quarter Ending : 
Sept. 30, 1885. Dec. 31, 1885. Mch. 31, 1886. June 30, 1886. Total. 



1 cent 


225,320 


146,160 


138,740 


144,790 


655,010 


2 cents 


90,930 


94,95° 


113,465 


120,180 


4i9,5 2 5 


3 cents 


62,590 


3 6 ,52o 


46,040 


49,490 


194,640 


4 cents 


49,955 


63,205 


76,160 


82,895 


272,215 


6 cents 


45,655 


41,385 


53,42o 


51,095 


i9i,555 


8 cents 


29,125 


29,410 


38,890 


37,535 


134,960 


10 cents 


67,280 


64,705 


86,525 


87,355 


305,865 


12 cents 


29,045 


29,870 


37,795 


3 6 ,345 


'33,055 


24 cents 


24,670 


23,560 


33,905 


32,820 


"4,955 


36 cents 


13,260 


io,935 


14,820 


l6 ,355 


55,37o 


48 cents 


8,445 


7,830 


11,905 


1 1,210 


39,39o 


60 cents 


10,545 


10,285 


11,860 


11,190 


43,880 


72 cents 


5,8i5 


6,840 


5,32o 


7,475 


24,450 


84 cents 


6,225 


5,850 


5,520 


7, 2 45 


24,840 


96 cents 


12,520 


10,635 


12,480 


13,065 


48,700 


192 cents 


10,105 


7,025 


7,i55 


7,850 


32,135 


3 dollars 


6,487 


5,875 


5,o66 


6,292 


23,720 


6 dollars 


3,255 


3,465 


3,473 


4,200 


J 4,393 


9 dollars 


2,694 


2,515 


J, 343 


2,138 


8,690 


12 dollars 


2,625 


2,142 


1,662 


2,198 


8,627 


24 dollars 


1,185 


732 


3'5 


746 


2,978 


36 dollars 


506 


400 


145 


3'° 


1,361 


48 dollars 


39° 


310 


160 


85 


945 


60 dollars 


i,356 


595 


860 


I ,39 I 


4,202 



Whole number of stamps 2,755,46 r. Value $1,097,390.00. 



310 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1879. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1887 : 

Quarter Ending : 

Sept. 30, 1886. Dec. 31, 1886. Mch 31, 1887. June 30, 1887. Total. 

1 cent 134,625 i55, 2 9 164,870 >49>7 6 o 604,545 

2 cents 116,380 126,945 129,440 117,640 490,405 

3 cents 40,845 47,74o 57, *4° 5 6 ,57° 202,295 

4 cents 74,'65 84,315 92,095 77,7oo 328,275 
6 cents 48,685 5°>5 8 5 57,495 5°,°35 206,800 

8 cents 35>'6o 37,5 6 5 40,910 42,335 '55.97° 
10 cents 85,795 95, '45 96,250 9 2 ,73 8 3 6 9,9 2 8 
12 cents 34,49° 35,355 37,59° 39,"° '46,545 
24 cents 3',°5° 34,845 36,095 3 2 ,455 '34,445 
36 cents 13,625 15,485 18,390 17,465 64,965 
48 cents n,795 8 > 6 95 '3,46o '1,525 45.475 
60 cents 12,090 ",C50 13,940 '3. '35 50.215 
72 cents 6,835 5,160 8,590 8,755 29,340 
84 cents 5,355 5,165 8,835 6,870 26,225 
96 cents i3>340 16,295 '4,775 '4,435 58,845 

192 cents 8,620 10,225 9>575 9,°75 37,495 

3 dollars 6,139 7,794 7,434 8,389 29,756 

6 dollars 3,235 4,5 02 4,747 4,°68 16,552 

9 dollars 2,103 2 ,449 3>°9 2 2,842 10,486 
12 dollars 2,043 2 > 2 5 8 2,635 3, '35 10,071 
24 dollars 772 889 975 1,582 4,218 
36 dollars 285 342 580 526 1,733 
48 dollars 310 253 370 520 1,453 
60 dollars ',035 1,268 1,640 1,6 r5 5,558 

Whole number of stamps 3,031,595. Value $1,364, 4(3. 80. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1888 : 

Quarter Ending : 

Sept. 30, 1887. Dec. 31, 1887. Mch. 31, 1888. June 30, 1888. Total. 

1 cent 261,580 162,960 169,090 180,840 674,470 

2 cents 137, 130 136,645 132,365 134,430 54°,57o 

3 cents 68,780 64,910 59-57° 60,650 253,910 

4 cents 98,960 94,615 99,610 97.° 2 5 390,210 
6 cents 57, 815 56,830 59.825 60,240 234,710 
8 cents 44,'40 41,260 41,690 49,780 176,870 

10 cents i°7,735 102,470 101,920 109,325 421,450 

12 cents 37, "5 41,64° 37,67° 48,125 164,550 

24 cents 39,' 2 ° 37, '55 34,53° 40,655 15', 460 

36 cents 17,275 17,935 18,650 19,935 73,795 

48 cents 13.785 13.880 12,440 '7,050 57,i55 

60 cents 12,855 12,170 14,530 15,800 55,355 

72 cents 7,385 7,630 8,890 11,225 35.13° 

84 cents 7,830 7,880 8,250 8,350 32,310 

96 cents '4,565 16,610 '6,875 20,845 68,895 



NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 3IT 

Sept. 30, 18S7. Dec. 31, 1887. Mch. 3 1, 1888. June 30, 1888. Total. 

192 cents 1^,150 11,005 * °>7 75 12,810 44,740 

3 dollars 7,436 7,460 8,756 8,488 32,140 

6 dollars 4,572 3,477 4,715 4,698 17,462 

9 dollars 3,010 2,217 3> lI 3 3,486 11,826 

12 dollars 2,777 2,466 3,742 3,573 12,558 

24 dollars 752 446 T -3 X 3 J ,7 12 4, 22 3 

36 dollars 616 173 481 735 2,005 

48 dollars 420 100 505 626 1,651 

60 dollars 790 1,720 2,103 2,360 6,973 

Whole number of stamps 3,464,418. Value $1,588,425.00. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1889 : 

Quarter Ending : 

Sept. 30, 1888. Dec. 31,1888. Mch. 31,1889. June 30, 1889. Total. 

1 cent 136,560 146,360 176,990 236,050 695,960 

2 cents 118,300 113,080 130,79° '87,155 549>3 2 9 

3 cents 49,630 49,590 63,660 66,210 229,090 

4 cents 88,075 82,290 96,195 103,110 369,670 
6 cents 56,695 53,200 64,605 66,940 241,440 

8 cents 48,275 42,300 52,440 57,060 200,075 
10 cents 96,790 97,455 "5,33° 112,725 422,300 
12 cents 44,405 35>5'5 40,620 54,880 181,420 
24 cents 43,°6o 3',78o 4',75° 4o,49° 157,080 
36 cents 27,755 15,560 22,115 20,525 85,955 
48 cents 18,055 ",485 15,455 ^^'S 60,910 
60 cents 15,395 12,300 .15,605 15,525 5 8 , 82 5 
72 cents 9,530 6,710 10,525 8,500 35,265 
84 cents 10,560 7,100 8,885 9,595 36,140 
96 cents 16,785 16,650 16,055 18,365 67,855 

192 cents 11,100 II ,345 10,865 10,820 44,130 

3 dollars 9,255 6,814 9,656 9,370 35,°95 

6 dollars 4,902 3,813 5,°9 2 4,476 18,283 

9 dollars 2,301 2,135 3- 2 io 3,130 10,776 
12 dollars 3,111 2,607 3,5 c6 2,534 ",75 8 
24 dollars 1,252 938 1,176 1,133 4,499 
36 dollars 931 598 616 620 2,765 
48 dollars 555 360 750 370 2,035 
60 dollars 1,830 I >75° 2,060 x >57° 7,210 

Whole number of stamps 3,527,861. Value $1,663,751.00. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1890 : 

Quarter Ending : 

Sept. 30, 1889. Dec. 31, 1889. Mch. 31, 1890. June 30, 1890. Total. 

1 cent 202,610 168,330 188,200 196,750 755,890 

2 cents '53,34° I 4 I ,73° ^o,^ 160,600 605,820 

3 cents 67,070 63,980 56,600 62,300 249 950 

4 cents 102,555 86,615 88,000 91,700 368,870 



312 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF I 879. 

Sept. 30, 1889. 



6 cents 


61,445 


8 cents 


48,395 


10 cents 


118,245 


12 cents 


50,620 


24 cents 


40,660 


36 cents 


20.490 


48 cents 


14,620 


60 cents 


'5.75° 


72 cents 


10,165 


84 cents 


8,665 


96 cents 


22,050 


192 cents 


14,215 


3 dollars 


10,902 


6 dollars 


5, '79 


9 dollars 


3.354 


12 dollars 


3.978 


24 dollars 


1,327 


36 dollars 


635 


48 dollars 


3'° 


60 dollars 


1,065 



.31, 1889. 


Mch. 31, 1890. 


June 30, 1890. 


Total. 


59,020 


64,300 


67,975 


252,740 


45,275 


48,125 


55,625 


197,420 


i° r ,975 


105,180 


109,770 


435, «7° 


49,935 


57,85o 


59,120 


217,525 


38,225 


43,525 


41,125 


i63,535 


17,865 


21,710 


20,575 


8o,6oo 


12,415 


16,450 


16,350 


59,835 


53.235 


16,645 


18,020 


63,650 


8,470 


11,250 


1 1,100 


4o,9 8 5 


6.585 


",435 


9,100 


35,785 


18,130 


18,300 


22,135 


80,615 


12,150 


12,950 


",375 


50,690 


8,128 


10,375 


12,368 


4i,773 


5,o75 


5025 


5,325 


20,604 


2,544 


3,695 


2,656 


12 249 


2.347 


3,565 


3,010 


12,900 


1,056 


1,53° 


1,140 


5,o53 


442 


665 


695 


2,437 


480 


45 6 


356 


1 ,602 


1 >°95 


1,985 


2,515 


6,660 



Whole number of stamps 3,762,398. Value $1,711,464.00. 
Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1891 : 

Quarter Ending : 

Sept. 30, 1890. Dec. 31, 1890. Mch. 31, 1891. June 30, 1891. Total. 

1 cent 216,900 204,100 180, 2co 215,920 817,120 

2 cents 178,300 160,050 147,150 170,660 656,160 

3 cents 57,400 56,100 41,600 52,050 207,150 

4 cents 106,550 97,875 89,375 102,755 396,555 
6 cents 73, 8 5° 7 2 ,45° 63,525 71,005 280,830 

8 cents 59,375 57-375 5 f >325 61,990 230,065 
10 cents 129,050 121,400 1 05,765 121,700 477,915 
12 cents 64.375 61,725 61,850 64,335 252,285 
24 cents 47,500 44,9°° 40,275 44,425 177,100 
36 cents 25,425 23,325 19 95° 22,645 9 r »345 
48 cents 21,200 18,735 14,375 18,355 72,665 
60 cents 22,605 18,410 16,540 19,065 76,620 
72 cents 12,325 12,45° io,45° ",74o 46,965 
84 cents 10,975 10,600 9,675 n,435 42,685 
96 cents 24,500 23,400 21,500 23,685 93,085 

192 cents 15,650 15,585 13,650 12,040 56,925 

3 dollars 13,090 ",975 I2 , 2 35 12,223 49>5 2 3 

6 dollars 6,729 5,565 5,870 5,930 24,094 

9 dollars 3,766 3,990 3,395 3,227 14,378 
12 dollars 3,940 2,960 3,900 3,659 14,459 



NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 



3'3 



Sept. 30, 1890. Dec. 31, 1890. Mch, 31, 1891. June 30, 1891. 
24 dollars 1,570 1,520 1,485 1,935 

36 dollars 835 915 655 1,025 

48 dollars 602 525 515 435 

60 dollars I ,79 2 2,290 1,920 2,310 

Whole number of stamps 4,098,263. Value $2,055,798.00. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1892 : 

Quarter Ending : 



1 cent 

2 cents 

3 cents 

4 cents 
6 cents 

8 cents 
10 cents 
12 cents 
24 cents 
36 cents 
48 cents 
60 cents 
72 cents 
84 cents 
96 cents 

192 cents 
3 dollars 
6 dollars 

9 dollars 
12 dollars 
24 dollars 
36 dollars 
48 dollars 
60 dollars 



Sept. 30, 189 

i 94,94° 

'58,325 

53,830 

91.505 

67,735 

5 2 .945 

1 1 8, 1 1 9 

64,265 

47,000 

22,545 

20,620 

20,890 

12,035 

10,560 

23.945 

14,925 

10,104 

6,024 

3.417 

4,33 8 

1,400 

465 
185 
2,359 



Dec. 31, 1891 

207,250 

160,800 

44,65o 

97,025 

67,425 
62,175 
122,215 
61,900 
44,900 
2i,975 
16,450 
16,460 
12,025 
10,150 

23,875 

15,700 

12,095 

5,705 

4,057 

3,977 

1.333 

690 

345 
2,375 



Mch. 31, 1892. June 30, 1892. 



186,100 

I59. 8 50 

50,25° 
94,400 

69,475 

55>250 
118,640 

63,275 
45,600 
23,400 

17.975 
17,700 
10,825 
10,400 
2i,775 
14,375 
11,050 

5.79° 

3,37o 
3.55° 
i,55o 

735 
595 
2,7 13 



2 19,300 

168,775 
57,4oo 

io7,'75 
74,075 
58,950 

134,920 
66,800 
5 I -575 
25.950 
19,425 
20,830 

",675 

10,850 

25.50° 

17,600 

14,240 

6,263 

3,926 

4,544 
1,649 

772 
737 
3.690 



Whole number of stamps 4,113,292. Value $2,209,516.00. 
Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1893 
Quarter Ending : 



1 cent 

2 cents 

3 cents 

4 cents 
6 cents 
8 cents 

10 cents 
12 cents 



Sept. 30, 189: 
200,650 
148,900 

47,150 
101,325 

63.875 

55.150 

123,435 

64.350 



Dec. 31, 1892. 

203,030 

168,220 

50,620 

99,340 

66,380 

57,38o 

128,195 

70,380 



Mch. 31, 1893. June 30, 1893. 



199,850 
169,800 

55,ooo 
107,650 

75.275 

64,575 

132,840 

72,900 



201,050 

166,500 

50,100 

97,000 

63,500 
58,825 

124,035 

64,650 



Total. 
6,510 
3,440 
2,077 
8,312 



Total. 
807,590 

647.750 
206,130 

390,105 
278,710 
229,320 

493,894 
256,240 
189,075 
93 8 7o 
74,47o 
75,88o 
46,560 
41,960 

95-095 
62,600 
47,489 
23,782 

14,77° 
16,409 

5932 

2,662 

1,862 

n,i37 



Total. 
804,580 
653,420 
202,870 

405,315 
269,030 

235.930 
508,505 
272,280 



3M 



NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1 879. 





Sept. 30, 1892. Dec 


.31, 1892. 


Mch. 31, 1893. 


June 30, 1893. 


Total. 


24 cents 


46,875 


48,920 


49,250 


44.3 2 5 


189,370 


36 cents 


24,900 


26,085 


2 3,475 


2i,575 


96,035 


48 cents 


20,175 


19,080 


20,400 


18,500 


78,155 


60 cents 


.19,690 


22,410 


2i,375 


18,045 


81,520 


72 cents 


12,125 


12,225 


12,675 


i3>° 2 5 


5°,o5 


84 cents 


1 1,800 


11,150 


>°,475 


n,575 


45,000 


96 cents 


24,500 


23,200 


23,200 


20,600 


91,50° 


92 cents 


14,200 


12,050 


i3,i75 


12,150 


5',575 


3 dollars 


13.777 


10,667 


12,912 


9,980 


47,336 


6 dollars 


7,i65 


5,455 


6,655 


5,605 


24 880 


9 dollars 


4,395 


3>«°5 


3-33° 


3,585 


i4,4'5 


12 dollars 


4,670 


4,625 


3,520 


3,360 


16,175 


24 dollars 


1,980 


1,315 


i,395 


1,400 


6,090 


36 dollars 


i,575 


605 


540 


810 


3,53° 


48 dollars 


1,560 


555. 


520 


610 


3,245 


60 dollars 


4,618 


5, 2 97 


5,685 


4,685 


20,285 


Whol 


e number of stam 


ps 4,171, 


ogi. Value $2 


',850,324.00. 





Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1894 
Quarter Ending : 



1 cent 


214,850 


2 cents 


17 1,200 


3 cents 


60,550 


4 cents 


'04,525 


6 cents 


7?, coo 


8 cents 


66,450 


10 cents 


128,7 IO 


12 cents 


66,975 


24 cents 


47,875 


36 cents 


26,625 


48 cents 


18,925 


60 cents 


'9,485 


72 cents 


1 1,500 


84 cents 


• 0,675 


96 cents 


26,275 


192 cents 


r4,8oo 


3 dollars 


1 2,691 


6 dollars 


6,020 


9 dollars 


3-747 


12 dollars 


4,225 


24 dollars 


1.775 


36 dollars 


775 


48 dollars 


55o 


60 dollars 


3.630 



. 31, 1893. 


Mch. 31, 1894. 


June 30, 1894. 


Total. 


195,200 


201,100 


224,200 


835.350 


151,425 


154,650 


175,700 


652,975 


52,400 


5 2 -3°o 


59,600 


224,850 


92,100 


94,35o 


1 1 1,050 


402,025 


64,775 


65,675 


73,600 


276,050 


56,55o 


59,'75 


64,725 


246,900 


114,450 


118,885 


132,240 


494,285 


63,500 


63,650 


70,300 


264,425 


44,5oo 


44,'25 


49,625 


186,125 


23, '75 


25,300 


27,375 


102,475 


17,400 


18,925 


19,000 


74,25° 


18,545 


20,155 


19,595 


77,78o 


12,800 


'2,475 


13,250 


50> 25. 


",725 


io,55o 


12,350 


45,30o 


19,450 


24,900 


22,575 


93,200 


12,650 


.5,000 


'4975 


57 425 


10,045 


1 ',845 


11,285 


45,866 


4,865 


6,050 


6,230 


23 165 


Z,*75 


4,282 


3.975 


I S>V9 


3.030 


4435 


3,905 


'5.595 


1,270 


i,475 


',655 


6,i75 


665 


605 


670 


2,715 


580 


435 


54o 


2,105 


3,7i5 


5,482 


4,960 


'7,787 


ps 4,212, 


027. Value $2 


,6 13,920.00. 





NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 



3'5 



Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1895 : 
Quarter Ending : 



s 


ept 


. 30, 1894 


Dec. 31, 1894. 


Meh 31, 1895. June 30, 1895. 


Total. 


1 cent 




45.936 






45,936 


2 cents 




1 1 1,618 






in, 618 


3 cents 




48,150 






48,150 


4 cents 




63,829 






63,829 


6 cents 




40,545 






40,545 


8 cents 




70,400 






70,400 


10 cents 




90,888 






90,888 


12 cents 




44, 5 21 






44.521 


24 cents 




29,486 






29,486 


36 cents 




4.39° 






4,39° 


48 cents 




i9. 62 5 






19,625 


60 cents 




25,835 


2,663 




28,498 


72 cents 




10,350 






10,350 


84 cents 




39,700 






39.70O 


96 cents 




27.300 


32,3 2 5 


4,898 


64,523 


192 cents 




'3. 6 5o 






13.65° 


3 dollars 




12 >33 r 


",425 




23,756 


6 dollars 




5.695 


7,050 




'2,745 


9 dollars 




3,640 






3.640 


12 dollars 




10,215 






10,215 


24 dollars 




2,077 


1,698 


i,3 IQ 


5,085 


36 dollars 




595 






595 


48 dollars 




35 2 


435 


3°° 


1,087 


60 dollars 




i,795 


4,985 


r -335 


8,115 


Whole 


mi 


mber of st 


amps 79 T ,347- 


Value $1,178,923.32. 





On March 7th, 1894, the Third Assistant Postmaster General sent to 

the contractors an order, in the customary form, to deliver to the Post Office 

Department at Washington the following supplies : 

" 25 sheets of blank paper of each three sizes in use, 75 sheets. 

And a sample sheet of each denomination and kind of stamps now used, thus: 

1st. Printed only 

2nd. Printed and gummed 

3rd Printed, gummed and perforated. 
Newspaper and Periodical stamps: 25 plates, 3 sheets of each 

as above, 75 sheets, 100 stamps per sheet 7>5 00 stamps 

Postage Due stamps: 7 plates, 3 sheets of each as above, 21 

sheets, 200 stamps per sheet 4,200 stamps 

Regular postage stamps: 11 plates, 3 sheets of each as above, 

33 sheets : 

1 and 2 cents: 3 sheets each, 6 sheets, 400 stamps per 

sheet 2,400 stamps 

3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 15, 30 and 90 cents: 3 sheets each, 27 

sheets, 200 stamps per sheet 5,4°° stamps 

Making a total of regular issue of 1890 of 7, 800 stamps 

Special delivery stamp: 1 plate, 3 sheets as above, 100 stamps 

per sheet 300 stamps 

Total number of stamps 19,800 stamps 

And 1 sheet from plate (full size) on card board from each of 

the 44 plates as above." 

It will be remembered that, on February 21st, 1894, the Postmaster 



Order to the 
contractors for a 
special printing. 



316 



NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 



Purpose of this 
special printing. 



Ultimate disposition 
of the sheets. 



Trouble ubout the 

newspaper and 
periodical stamps. 



Nine cent Ntainj)) 

printed by the 

American Bank 

Note Co. 



Paper. 

Perforation. 

Colors. 



General had awarded the contract for the manufacture of postage stamps, for 
the term of four years, beginning July ist, 1894, to the Bureau of Engraving 
and Printing at Washington. The sheets which were printed by the American 
Bank Note Co., on the above order, were turned over to the new contractors, to 
serve as guides for color, paper, etc. The blank sheets were subsequently used 
for printing stamps. It is probable that these stamps could not be distinguished 
from other early printings of the same stamps by the Bureau of Engraving 
and Printing. The three varieties of printed sheets were, in due time, 
returned to the Post Office Department. The fully finished sheets were 
eventually turned into stock and issued to postmasters. The sheets that were 
merely printed, without being gummed or perforated, were destroyed. What 
became of the sheets of the second class — i. e. those which were left imper- 
forate — I am unable to say, except in the case of a half sheet, fifty stamps, of 
each value of the newspaper and periodical stamps. These latter passed from 
official into private hands. The new owner retained five sets in imperforate 
condition and had the others perforated — a very unwise act, in my opinion — 
and offered them for sale. 

Following the appearance of these privately perforated stamps in the 
market there was trouble in official circles. By whom it was started and just 
what form it took are only known to those behind the curtain. It led to 
seizure of the stamps, arrest of the holder, action at law, scandal, loss of official 
position and other disagreeable details, much of which was set forth at length 
in the philatelic journals at the time. But the true inwardness of the affair 
was never made public. Eventually the stamps were restored to their owner, 
as being rightfully his property, and are once more in the market. Knowing 
the circumstances connected with them, the reader must determine for himself 
their status and collectability. At the least, they are extremely interesting. 

While these stamps are not exactly like any others of the same series, 
they very closely resemble some of the latest printings by the American Bank 
Note Co. It will be observed that the set comprises all values from one cent 
to sixty dollars, including the nine cents, which thus appears for the first and 
only time in a printing of the American Bank Note Co. 

The paper is very white, fine, close, without sign of weave or grain. 
The gum is yellowish white and usually crackled. The perforation gauges 
1 2 and is very clear cut. It was apparently made by a guillotine machine, one 
row at a time. Evidence of this is found in the fact that the rows of perfor- 
ations are not always parallel nor the holes in line on opposite sides of a stamp. 
The inks are glossy and apparently aniline. The impressions are very clear 
and fine, carefully made and suggestive of proofs. They have not the soft- 
ness of the ordinary prints of either the American Bank Note Co. or the 
Bureau of Engraving and Printing. The denominations one to ten cents are 
printed in a pure black, not a greenish, grayish or bluish black. The color of 
the twelve to ninety six cents has a suggestion of lilac. The color is rich but 
hard and lacks warmth. The ink of the nine dollars contains more red than 
usual, that of the twelve dollars more blue, while the thirty-six dollars has 
more brown. The other values are lighter and colder in tone. As nearly 
as they can be described the colors are as follows: 



NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1879. 317 

Imperforate and Perforated 12. Reference list. 

White Wove Paper. 

1 cent clear deep black 

2 cents clear deep black 

3 cents clear deep black 

4 cents clear deep black 
6 cents clear deep black 

8 cents clear deep black 

9 cents clear deep black 
10 cents clear deep black 
12 cents rose-carmine 

24 cents rose-carmine 
36 cents rose-carmine 
48 cents rose-carmine 
60 cents rose-carmine 
72 cents rose-carmine 
84 cents rose-carmine 
96 cents rose-carmine 
192 cents light yellow-brown 

3 dollars scarlet-vermilion 

6 dollars light ultramarine 

9 dollars deep orange 
12 dollars blue-green 
24 dollars deep dull violet 
36 dollars rose-brown 
48 dollars pale orange-brown 
60 dollars bright purple 



Newspaper and Periodical Stamps, 

Issue of 1894. 

When, in 1894, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing entered upon the 

contract to supply the stamps required by the Post Office Department, many 

Printings from the difficulties were encounted at the beginning of the undertaking, as was to be 

plates ot prev ous ex p ectec i. j t was necessary to provide an increased force of skilled employees, 

contractors. ' J l r J ' 

additional machinery, new plates and, in the case of the newspaper and 
periodical stamps, new designs. The plates for these latter stamps were not 
ready until the beginning of the year 1895. In the mean time the necessary 
supplies were obtained by printings from the old plates of the Continental 
and American Bank Note Companies. These printings have marked pe- 
culiarities by which they may, without difficulty, be distinguished from the 
work of the former contractors. The plates were re-entered before they 
were put to press and consequently the impressions appear sharp and un- 
worn. The shades of the inks, even that of the black, differ from any pre- 
viously used. Many of the impressions have the surface of the paper tinted 
from imperfect wiping of the plates. The paper is white, semi-transparent 
and with very little grain. The gum is white or yellowish white. At first it 
was quite rough and crackled but afterwards it became thin and smooth. 
The perforation of the early printings was blind and the disks of paper, 
which should have been punched out, usually remained in the holes. Im- 
proved machines were used for the sheets of the later printings and the per- 
foration was then clear cut and fine. 
The colors are: 
itcference List. Perforated 12. 

White Wove Paper. 

i cent clear full black 

2 cents clear full black 

4 cents clear full black 

6 cents clear full black 
io cents clear full black 
12 cents dull pink 
24 cents dull pink 
36 cents dull pink 
60 cents dull pink 



NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1894. 



3 J 9 



96 cents dull pink 
3 dollars pale scarlet-vermilion 
6 dollars very pale ultramarine 

New numbers were assigned to the plates but were not engraved on 
them, at least they do not appear on the printed sheets. Among the old 
plates used by the Bureau the 72 cents and $1.92 have been reported. Mr. 
J. M. Bartels, to whom I am indebted for valued information, assures me 
that neither plate was ever used, though a new number, 65, was assigned to 
the plate of the 72 cent stamp. The following table may be of interest: 

Old Number. New Number. 



1 cent 


482 


37 


3 printings 


2 cents 


218 


38 


3 




4 cents 


2I 5 


39 


5 




6 cents 


216 


40 


1 




10 cents 


2 17 


41 


5 




12 cents 


J 95 


42 


5 




24 cents 


198 


81 


4 




36 cents 


196 


43 


2 




60 cents 


202 


83 


4 




96 cents 


204 


127 


1 




3 dollars 


199 


108 


2 




6 dollars 


197 


118 


1 





Of these stamps the following quantities were issued: 
Fiscal year ending June 30th, 1895: 

Quarter Ending: 





Sept. 30, 1894. 


Dec. 31 , 1894. 


Mch. 31, 18c 


1 cent 


198,164 


266,100 


I05. 6 5 


2 cents 


88,682 


215,100 


89,400 


4 cents 


73, 3 21 


'93.875 


77,175 


6 cents 


9.705 






10 cents 


5 2 - 2 57 


157, 3 6 ° 


65,8.5 


12 cents 


31,004 


93. 62 5 


32,775 


24 cents 


2 9,339 


78,475 


34,95° 


36 cents 


9-935 






60 cents 




3i, 2 72 


14,460 


96 cents 






7,827 


3 dollars 




3.19° 


6,025 


6 dollars 




1.075 


4,175 



Whole number of stamps 1,970,731. Value $206,289,680.00. 



Total. 

569,9^ 
393, >82 

344,371 
9,7°5 
2 75,432 
157,404 
142,764 

9,935 

45,732 
7,827 

9, 21 5 
5,25° 



Plate numbers. 



Deliveries to 
postmasters. 



Newspaper and Periodical Stamps. 

Issue of 1895. 

In the report of the Third Assistant Postmaster General for 1894 we 
read: 

" A new series of newspaper and periodical stamps has also been decided on, differing 

in size materially from the old series, but maintaining their general characteristics. Several 

Ollicial °f l ' 1e dies °f stamps of this new series have been engraved, but none of the working plates. 

nniiounceiuent. The colors are as yet undetermined, but the denominations will be as follows: 1, 2, 3, 5, 

10, 25 and 50 cents, and $2, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. 

Further description of the stamps cannot now be given." 

The reader will observe that the series, as announced, contained a 
denomination, the three cents, which was not included among the issued 
stamps. 

The stamps of this new series were issued on February 1st, 1895. 
They are thus officially described : 

" The denominations of these stamps from 1 to 10 cents, inclusive, are of 
the same design. The numerals in the upper corners are of equal size in the 
Designs. 1, 2 and 5 cent stamps, while those in the 10 cent stamp are condensed so as to 

fill the same space that is given to the others, besides being slightly different 
in style. Those in the 1 and 5 cent denominations are shaded dark on the 
lower half ; those of the 2 and 10 cent stamps are white faced. All these 
stamps bear an engraving of the statue of America, by Crawford, which sur- 
mounts the dome of the Capitol at Washington, the same subject as that on 
the lower denominations of the old series, except that the presentation is in 
full face instead of three-quarters. The words ' u. s. postage ' at the top 
of the stamps are in white block letters upon an arched line, and the words 
' newspapers ' on the left and ' periodicals ' on the right are in vertical 
lines. The denominations at the bottom are in white Roman letters, and 
there is a foliate ornamentation in the lower corners. 

The upper border line of the 25 and 50 cent stamps is broken by two 
indentations, separating that border into three erjual parts, and the side 
inscriptions follow a curved line upon a scroll. The dimensions of the stamps 
below the $2 denomination are 27-32 by 1 3-8 inch. 

The remaining denominations from $2 to $100, are of the same size as 
the stamps of the retired series, that is to say, 15-16 by 1 3-8 inch." 

The foregoing description may be supplemented by saying: The 
central figure on the 25 and 50 cent stamps is the same as that on the denomi- 
nations 12 to 96 cents of the preceding issues. Besides slight alterations in 



NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1895. 



321 



the arrangement of the inscriptions, foliage and other ornaments are added 
in the lower part of the stamps. The numerals in the upper corners are in 
small squares instead of shields. The designs of the $2, $5, $10, $20, $50 
and $100 denominations are adapted, respectively, from those of the $3, $6, 
$12, $24, $36 and $60 stamps of the previous series. In each case the arrange- 
ment of the surrounding inscriptions is slightly modified. 

The sizes in millimetres are : One to fifty cents, 21^x34^2 mm ; two 
to one hundred dollars, 24^x35^ mm. 

These stamps were at first printed on a thick soft paper, much like 
that used by the American Bank Note Co, but closer grained and less porous. 
Subsequently they were issued on paper watermarked with the letters "us 
p s ". This paper was fully described in the chapter upon the regular post- 
age stamps of the same period. 

The gum is thin, smooth and yellowish or yellowish white in color. 
The perforation is the standard 1 2. 

The stamps have been seen in the following colors and shades: 

Perforated 12. 
Thick Soft White Wove Paper. 

Feb. 1st, 1895 1 cent deep black 

2 cents deep black, black 

5 cents deep black 
10 cents deep black 

25 cents, rose, rose-carmine, carmine, lake 
50 cents rose rose-carmine, carmine, lake 

2 dollars scarlet-vermilion, scarlet 

5 dollars dull ultramarine 

10 dollars deep green 

20 dollars black-violet 

50 dollars brown-rose 

100 dollars bluish purple 

Watermarked USPS 

Jan. nth, 1896. 1 cent black, deep black 

Nov. 21st, 1895. 2 cents black, deep black 

Feb. 12th, 1896. 5 cents black, deep black 

Sept. 13th, 1895. 10 cents black, deep black 

Oct. nth, 1895. 25 cents deep rose, lilac-rose, violet-rose, lake 

Sept 19th, 1895. 50 cents deep rose, lilac-rose, violet-rose, lake 

Jan. 23rd, 1897. 2 dollars vermilion, scarlet vermilion, scarlet 

Jan. 16th, 1896. 5 dollars dark blue 

Mch. 5th, 1896. 10 dollars dark yellow-green, dark green 

Jan. 27th, 1896. 20 dollars black-violet, violet black 

July 31st, 1897. 50 dollars brown-rose, deep brown-rose 

Jan. 23rd, 1896. 100 dollars purple, deep purple 

The plates each contained one hundred stamps, arranged in ten rows of 
ten. At the time of perforation the impressions were divided horizontally into 



Paper. 



Reference List. 



322 



NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1895. 



Plates. half sheets of fifty stamps. The line of division is, as usual, marked by an 

imperforate edge. The imprint is " bureau, engraving and printing." 
in white Roman capitals, on a tablet with octagonal ends. A thin line of 
color surrounds the tablet and at each end are pointed ornaments. The 
imprint is placed at the middle of the top, bottom and sides. Three colored 
lines, meeting in a point above the " v " of " engraving ", mark the middle 
point of each side. The plate number is placed at the right of each imprint. 
The plate numbers are : 
Plate numbers. Without Watermark. 

No. 90. 

No. 100. 

No. 93. 

No. 105. 

No. 123. 

No. 109. 

No. 136. 

No. 137. 

No. 138. 

No. 139. 

No. 135. 

No. 140. 

Watermarked USPS 
No. 90, 262. 
No. 100, 265. 
No. 93, 266. 
No. 105, 269. 
No. 123. 
No. 109, 259. 
No. 136. 
No. 137. 
No. 138 
No. 139 
No. 135 
No 140 

plates not used. Certain other plates were prepared for these stamps but they were not 

put to press. The numbers assigned to them were: 

1 cent No. 36. 
25 cents No. 258. 

2 dollars No. 270. 
5 dollars No. 273. 

10 dollars No. 271 . 

20 dollars No. 272. 

50 dollars No. 284. 

100 dollars No. 285. 

From the annual reports of the Postmaster General and other sources 

we obtain the following statistics of stamps issued to deputy postmasters : 



1 cent 

2 cents 
5 cents 

10 cents 

25 cents 

50 cents 

2 dollars 

5 dollars 

10 dollars 

20 dollars 

50 dollars 

100 dollars 



1 cent 

2 cents 
5 cents 

10 cents 
25 cents 
50 cents 
2 dollars 
5 dollars 
10 dollars 
20 dollars 
50 dollars 
100 dollars 



NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1895. 



323 



stamps issue 

Sept. 30, 

1 cent , 

2 cents 


;d QUI 
1894. 


mg the hscal 

Quarter 

Dec. 31, 1894. 


year ending J 
Ending: 
Mch. 31, 1895, 
157,880 
147,410 

'58,75o 

124,940 

70,630 

50,575 

'6,973 

6,140 

2,528 

885 

'5 

',5'5 


une 30th, 1895: 

June 30, 1895. 

3'2,35° 

329,500 

294,990 

270,240 

133,03° 

99,43° 

37,756 

'7,775 

9,545 

6,250 

i,949 
3,745 


Total. 
470,230 
476,910 
453,740 
395>'8o 
203,660 
150,005 

54,729 

23,915 

12,073 

7,i35 
1,964 
5,260 


Deliveries to 
postmasters. 


5 cents 




10 cents 




25 cents 




50 cents 




2 dollars 




5 dollars 




ic dollars . . » .. 




20 dollars 




50 dollars 









Whole number of stamps 2,254,801. Value $1,319,026.00. 
Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1896: 
Quarter Ending: 





Sept. 30, 1895. 


Dec. 31, 1895. 


Mch. 31, 1896. 


June 30, 1896. 


Total. 


1 cent 


270,650 


273,100 


293, '5° 


248,650 


1,085,550 


2 cents 


303, 6 50 


314,600 


349,75° 


312,100 


1,280,100 


5 cents 


252,070 


236,720 


250,160 


228,600 


967,550 


10 cents 


257,880 


269,290 


273,840 


270,585 


1,071,395 


25 cents 


99,540 


106,820 


106,400 


121,680 


434,43° 


50 cents 


99,010 


1 16,900 


110,965 


113,700 


440,575 


2 dollars 


23,630 


32,485 


34,6io 


32,570 


123,295 


5 dollars 


8,910 


11,782 


12,380 


H,525 


44,597 


10 dollars 


5,583 


7,082 


8,705 


6,510 


27,882 


20 dollars 


2,583 


4,43° 


4,585 


4.255 


15.853 


50 dollars 


908 


i,355 


1,035 


9'5 


4,213 


100 dollars 


932 


3,250 


3,090 


2,95° 


10,222 



Whole number of stamps 5,505 672. Value $2,819,177.00. 
Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1897: 
Quarter Ending: 



1 


Sept. 30, 1896. 


Dec. 31, 1896. 


Mch. 31, 1897. 


June 30, 1897. 


Total. 


1 cent 


275,200 


287,000 


249,900 


233.050 


1,045,150 


2 cents 


340,925 


347,°5° 


320,650 


312,400 


1,321,025 


5 cents 


235,640 


259,150 


242,000 


212,570 


949,36o 


10 cents 


259,025 


285,245 


282,825 


248,850 


1,075,935 


25 cents 


114,610 


1 18,060 


109,594 


1 I 1,800 


454,o64 


50 cents 


'17,85' 


117,020 


112,346 


1 18,7 10 


465,927 


2 dollars 


29,158 


3', 875 


33.692 


29,185 


123,910 


5 dollars 


' r > 2 59 


13,120 


10 440 


10,780 


45 599 


10 dollars 


6,964 


8,130 


6565 


5.855 


27,5U 


20 dollars 


5,000 


4,99° 


4,280 


4,190 


18,460 


50 dollars 


1,255 


1,115 


93° 


1.120 


4,420 


100 dollars 


3, 2 65 


3,495 


3-o65 


3,090 


12,915 



Whole number of stamps 5,544,279. Value $3,171,068.00. 



324 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1895. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1898 : 
Quarter Ending : 



Sept. 


30, 1897. 


Dec. 31, 1897. 


Men. 31, 1898. 


June 30, 1898. 


Total. 


1 cent 


279,75° 


264,700 


256, 100 


176,950 


977,500 


2 cents 


3 6o >95° 


33 8 -400 


335, '5° 


223,650 


1,258,150 


5 cents 


257>42o 


244,400 


242,130 


144,300 


888,250 


10 cents 


278,695 


280,800 


281,905 


168,935 


1,010,335 


25 cents 


1 11,040 


ic6,oco 


1 15,860 


70,420 


403,3 20 


50 cents 


117,500 


'i5>58o 


124,290 


76,940 


434, 3 TO 


2 dollars 


35>46o 


30,940 


34,880 


2 1 ,980 


1 23,260 


5 dollars 


13,085 


",755 


13,090 


9,635 


47,565 


10 dollars 


7,i75 


7,505 


8,45° 


5,325 


28,455 


20 dollars 


4,695 


4,43° 


5,680 


3,9 2 5 


18,730 


50 dollars 


r,coo 


1, '65 


1,240 


i,5 2 5 


4,93° 


00 dollars 


3,°40 


3,38o 


3,2. Q 5 


2,610 


i2,3'5 



Whole number of stamps 5,207,120. Value $3,119,864.00. 

In the foregoing tables no distinction is made between the stamps on 
unwatermarked and those on watermarked paper and, so far as I am aware, 
statistics covering the exact quantities of the two varieties have not been 
published. 
other deliveries. In addition to the issues to postmasters certain other deliveries of these 

stamps have been made at various times : 

In 1895 there were sent to the headquarters of the Universal Postal 
Union at Berne 750 copies of each value from 1 cent to $100. 

In 1898, 125 sets were surcharged " universal— postal — congress" 
and distributed to the delegates attending the meeting of that congress at 
Washington. 

In the report of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing for the same 
year we find a table headed : " Statement showing the Specimens of Post- 
age Stamps for Post-Office Album, Delivered in the Fiscal Year 1898 " This 
table includes 50 sets of the newspaper and periodical stamps In the same 
report is another table headed : " Statement showing the Specimen Postage 
Stamps Delivered to the Third Assistant Postmaster General during the 
Fiscal Year 1898." This delivery consisted of 500 sets of the newspaper and 
periodical stamps. 

I am unable to say whether or not any of the stamps comprising the 
last two items were overprinted with the word "specimen." 

The report of the Postmaster General for 1898 says that 18,000 of the 
five dollar stamps were overprinted for use as internal revenue stamps. The 
report of the Bureau for the same year does not quite agree with these figures, 
the quantity being given as " 355 sheets, 17,750 stamps." 

Finally, in the report of the Bureau for 1899, we find that in that year 

55, coo sets of these stamps were placed on sale to the public and 1,250 " speci- 

Sets sold to the men " sets delivered to the Third Assistant Postmaster General. These sets 

general public, contained a quanity of reprints as will be seen on referring to the chapter 

devoted to that subject. It has been stated that the sets delivered to the 



NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1 895. 



3 2 5 



Third Assistant Postmaster General were all originals except the five dollar 
stamps. At least a part of them were handstamped "specimen'' in small 
type. As I have seen original five dollar stamps and reprints of some of the 
other values with this surcharge I conclude that the statement regarding the 
stamps delivered to the Third Assistant Postmaster General is not absolutely 
correct. It will be shown, on a subsequent page, that all of the 55,000 sets 
were not sold. 



ng tli© newspaper 

and periodical 

stamps. 



Regulations not 
heeded. 



The use of the newspaper and periodical stamps was discontinued on 
July 1st, 1898. The causes leading up to this are especially interesting to 
philatelists. The original purpose and manner of use of these stamps are set Regulations concern 
forth in the report of the Third Assistant Postmaster General, dated November 
15th, 1875, as quoted on page 294. A part of this report is clearly a trans- 
cription of the postal regulations, which were, in turn, founded on the laws of 
Congress. Here we read : "The proper amount in stamps handed to the 
postmaster, etc." From this wording it is evident that, at first, the stamps 
were sold to publishers and news agents, otherwise they could not have them 
to hand in. It is quite probable that they were sold to any one who applied 
for them. At a later date regulat'ons were promulgated by the Post Office 
Department which forbade the sale of the stamps and required the postage 
on second-class matter, when mailed in bulk, to be paid in money, and an 
equivalent amount of stamps to be taken from stock, by the clerk having them 
in charge, and affixed to the receipt. 

In various official publications we find evidence that the regulations 
concerning the sale of these stamps were not always observed. For instance, 
in the Postal Guide for 1898, we read : 

" Postmasters throughout the country are being solicited to sell postage-due stamps 
and newspaper and periodical stamps and are in some cases complying with such requests, 
in spite of the law and the rules of the Department Newspaper and periodical stamps are 
never to be sold to any person nor loaned to other postmasters. Their only proper use is to 
be affixed to and immediately cancelled on the stub of every receipt given for second-class 
matter accepted for mailing." 

Officials even went so far as to assert that collectors and dealers who 
held these stamps did so in defiance of the law ; that the stamps must have 
been stolen and were liable to seizure and their holders to punishment. This 
in spite of the fact that the stamps had been, at one time, freely sold to pub- 
lishers and news agents, had been given in quantities to the Universal Postal 
Union and had been sold with the sets of reprints and re-issues from 1875 to 
1 884. The question appears to have been revived by the trouble over the 
privately perforated stamps, which were referred to in a preceding chapter, 
and the Department decided to test the merits of its claims. In May, 1897, 
certain lots of these stamps, advertised for sale at public auction by a New 
York dealer, were seized and an action at law instituted to recover the stamps seizure of stamps, 
and nominal damages, on the ground that "said stamps were stolen, embezzled I ' e "" 1 action taken. 
and purloined from the Government, that they were prepared and printed 
for the Government and were and have ever since the time they were printed 
continued to be the property of the Government, and it has never lawfully 



(Mlici.il opinions. 



326 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF I 895. 

and voluntarily parted with the possession thereof, nor have any of its officers, 
employees or agents had lawful authority to part with title and possession 
thereto." 

Collectors and dealers joined together and subscribed liberally to 
defend this action. Even before the case came to trial the postal officials 
must have recognized the weakness of their position and — which should have 
been apparent long before — that the stamps were not necessary for the proper 
transaction of business between the Post Office Department and publishers. 
Corroboration of this is found in the following extract from the report of the 
Third Assistant Postmaster General, dated October 7th, 1897 : 

DISCONTINUANCE OF THE USE OF NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. 

" Under the present law and the Postal Regulations postage on newspapers and 
periodicals mailed in bulk by publishers and news agents, commonly called second-class 
Discontinuance of matter, is collected by postmasters in money, for which they are required to give receipts to 
the stamps recom- the senders of the matter, and to attach to the stubs of such receipts, retained in books kept 
incuded. in the post office, the equivalent of the money received in newapaper and periodical stamps. 

or stamps provided solely for that purpose, which are not good for postage on any other class 
of mail matter, and which are not to be sold, loaned or given away. Every postmaster at 
whose office this class of matter is mailed is further required to cancel the stamps used there- 
for, and to transmit them eveiy quarter to the office of the Third Assistant Postmaster 
General, with the stubs to which they are attached, and with an itemized report showing 
the names of the mailing parties and of their publications, and the amount of the postage 
paid thereon ; and these canceled stamps, after being carefully counted and the amounts 
found to agree with the accompanying reports, are destroyed. 

Upon a very slight consideration of this system it will be seen that, as the stamps used 
aie never bought by the senders of second-class matter, are never in their hands, but are 
always, both before and after use, in the custody of postmasters or their subordinates, who 
can apply them or not to the stubs of their receipt-books, as they may elect, and in any 
amounts the use of them in the manner described is unnecessary. A receipt to be given in 
every case to the sender of such matter, with a manifolded copy of it to be sent by the post- 
master to the Department, would present precisely the same evidence of the collection of the 
postage as is now sought to be secured by the use of the stamps. The only difference would 
be in the manner of showing the postmaster's collections : under the present plan he simply 
reports to this office the amount of postage received and sends to the Department the stamps 
used, while to the Auditor he reports these stamps as sold ; under the other, he would still 
report the amount of postage received, accompanied by manifolded copies of the receipts 
given therefor, which could be examined and verified, if necessary, both by the Third 
Assistant Postmaster Geneial and by the Auditor. 

These newspaper and periodical stamps are not only unnecessary, but they involve 
labor and expense, which could be saved by their abandonment. The cost of their manu- 
facture is not very great, it is true — not over a thousand dollars a year ; but the transmission 
of them in the mails, the custody of them in post offices, the application of them to the receipt 
books of postmasters, the canceling and forwarding of them to the Department, and their 
examination and destruction here, amount to very much more, all of which could be saved. 

Not being willing, however, to rely entirely on my own judgment as to the matter, 1 
have had special inquiry made of the postmasters at three very large cities as to whether the 
present system is a proper one and they have all agreed that so far as concerns the use of 
newspaper and periodical stamps the system should be modified, and could be without any 
inconvenient derangement of their office methods. 

On the whole, I am thoroughly convinced that the use of the stamps in question 
affords no protection whatever to the Government or to postmasters, but is expensive and un- 
necessary, and I accordingly recommend that Congress be asked to authorize their discon- 
tinuance, and the substitution of such a system of accountability on the part of postmasters 
and their subordinates as may be deemed best by the Postmaster General," 

The case was tried in April, 1898 and a decision was rendered in favor 
of the defendant, in which decision the Government ultimately acquiesced. 
In the meant me, Congress, in compliance with the recommendation of the 
Postmaster General, ordered the use of the newspaper and periodical stamps 
to be discontinued on and after July 1st, 189S. This act was approved on 
June 13th, 1898, and on the next day the following official order was issued : 



fEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1 895. 



327 



ORDER OF THE POST MASTER GENERAL 

Post Office Department, 



Order No. 232. 



Washington, D. C, June 14th, 1898. 



Under authority of the act of Congress approved on the 13th instant, making ap- 
propriations for the postal service for the next fiscal year, it is hereby ordered that the use 
of newspaper and periodical postage stamps shall cease on and after the 1 st of July, 1898. Order discontinuing 
From that date postmasters will collect in money the postage on second-class matter mailed the use of 1 lie 
in bulk by publishers and news agents, and will give receipts therefor, as they have hereto- stamps. 

fore done; but instead of including this money in the amount covered by the sale of stamps, 
as is now the practice, they must charge themselves with it in their quarterly returns to the 
Auditor, by a special entry to be inserted between items 1 and 2 of the official form. 

Carrying out this change. Sections 103 and 130 of the Postal Regulations are hereby 
modified so as to read as follows: 

Sec 103. Postage-Stamps: Kinds and Denominations — Of postage stamps two 
kinds, each consisting of various denominations, are provided, viz: Ordinary stamps which 
are used to prepay postage on ordinary mail matter of the first, third and fourth classes, as 
well as on second-class matter mailed by others than publishers and news agents, and the 
fees on registered matter; and postage due stamps, which are used for the collection of 
postage due on mail matter that has not been fully prepaid at mailing offices. '' 

''Sec. 130. Second class matter, elsewhere defined, must be brought to the post 
office and there weighed in bulk, and the postage collected in money, for which receipts, 
made out on forms taken from books furnished by the Department, are to be given. No 
credit is ever to be allowed for newspaper and periodical postage; but, for convenience, the 
postmaster may receive from a publisher or news agent the deposit of sufficient money in 
advance to pay for more than a single mailing. In every case where advance deposits of 
postage are thus made, the postmaster must charge against it every mailing, and must see to 
it that the amount on hand shall never fall below what is necessary to cover any matter that 
is offered for dispatch. Postmasters must transmit punctually at the end of each quarter, 
to the Third Assistant Postmaster General, by ordinary mail, in special envelopes provided 
for the purpose, the stubs of all receipts given for newspaper and periodical postage collected 
during the quarter, together with the statement required by Section 208." 

" Before returning the stubs, the calculations and footings should be reviewed and 
made correct. The stubs should then be detached from the book, arranged in numerical 
order, fastened together at the upper left-hand corner, and the name of the post office, 
county and state written thereon. The postmaster will continue to use what is left of the 
stub book." 

Section 194 will be also modified so as to require postmasters to report specially on 
their quarterly returns to the Auditor the amount of money collected during the quarter as 
postage on newspapers and periodicals; and Section 208 will be changed so as to require the 
quarterly statement of postage sent to the Third Assistant Postmaster General to be made in 
duplicate. 

Ch. Emory Smith, Postmaster General. 

The use of the newspaper and periodical stamps having been discon- 
tinued, postmasters were instructed to return to the Post Office Department, 
for redemption, any stocks of them remaining in their hands. An official stamps returned to 
circular, dated February 2d, 1899, limited the period of this redemption to 
the 15th of that month, at which latter date the 55,000 sets of reprints and 
remainders were offered for sale to the public In compliance with these 
orders a quantity of the stamps were returned to Washington. The stocks 
returned consisted of stamps of the various printings of the Bureau of En- 
graving and Printing and a number printed by the American Bank Note Co. 
It is even possible that a very few of the Continental Bank Note Co's pro- 
duct may have been included among them. I am not aware that any report 
of the amount of stamps redeemed has been made public. If published, it 
would doubtless be confined to a statement of the total value, without giving 
quantities of the several denominations or separating the issues 

The stamps returned by postmasters were usually in broken sheets and 
often stuck together. None of them were used toward making up the 55,000 
sets for collectors. Such stamps of those sets as were originals were obtained 



the Post Olliee 
Department. 



3- , 8 NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. ISSUE OF 1895. 

from undistributed stock in the vaults of the Stamp Agent at the Bureau of 
Engraving and Printing. The balance of this stock was subsequently 
destroyed, as we e also the stamps returned by postmasters 

Only about one half of the 55,000 sets were sold, as is shown in the 
following extract from the annual report of the Third Assistant Postmaster 
General for 1900 : 

In my report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1899, it was stated that the Depart- 
ment had realized $1 17,175 from the sale of obsolete newspaper and periodical stamps at $5 
Number of sets sold per set. This sum represented the value of the sets reported sold by first-class postmasters 
to the public. to whom they were furnished, but upon final settlement it developed that many postmasters 
had reported as " sold ", in addition to their actual sales, a number of sets which had simply 
been placed in the hands of their stamp clerks for sale. Many of these stamps were after- 
ward returned to the Department, and this reduced the value of the sets sold by postmasters 
from the time they were issued in February, 189Q, until their withdrawal from sale Decem- 
ber 31, 1800, to $109, 04s. To this amount should be added the value of 5,000 sets sold by 
the Department direct, $2=;,ooo, making the total income derived from this source $134,045. 
The newspaper and periodical stamps remaini lg in the hands of postmasters December 31, 
1899, were returned to the Depaitment for destruction. The following statement shows in 
detail the disposition made of the entire issue : 

Placed on sale — At first-class post offices, 

At Post Office Department, 

Total, 
Returned to Depaitment unsold. 

Sold, 20,980 $134,945 

The sale of these stamps was discontinued after December 31st, 1899, 
at all post offices except that of the city of Washington, where the stamps 
remained on sale until February 10th, 1900. 



Number 
of sets. 

50,000 

5,000 


Value at $c 
per set. 

$250,000 
2 5,000 


55,000 

28,011 


$275,000 
140,055 



Postage Due Stamps. 

Issue of 1879. 

Previous to July, 1879, whenever a letter was sent unpaid or insuffi- 
ciently prepaid, the amount of postage due was written or stamped on the 
envelope and collected from the addressee. No vouchers were given for 
money thus collected and there was nothing, beyond the honesty of the post- 
master, to insure its delivery to the Government. 

As a remedy for this unsatisfactory system an Act of Congress, approved 
March 3rd, 1879, provided : 

" Sec 26. All mail matter of the first-class, upon which one full rate of postage has 
been prepaid, shall be forwarded to its destination, charged with the unpaid rate, to be col- 
lected on delivery ; but postmasters, before delivering the same, or any article of mail matter Act authorizing 
upon which prepayment in full has not been made, shall affix, or caused to be affixed, and postage due stamps. 
canceled, as ordinary stamps are canceled, one or more stamps, equivalent in value to the 
amount of postage due on such article of mail matter, which stamps shall be of such special 
design and denomination as the Postmaster General may prescribe, and which shall in no 
case be sold by any postmaster nor received by him in prepayment of postage. That, in lieu 
of the commission now allowed to postmasters at offices of the fourth class upon the amount 
of unpaid letter postage collected, such postmasters shall receive a commission upon the 
amount of such special stamps so canceled, the same as now allowed upon postage stamps, 
stamped envelopes, postal cards, and newspaper and periodical stamps canceled as postages 
on matter actually mailed at their offices : Provided, The Postmaster General may, in his 
discretion, prescribe instead such regulations therefor at the offices where free delivery is 
established as, in his judgment, the good of the service may require. 

Sec. 27. Any postmaster or other person engaged in the postal service who shall collect, 
and fail to account for, the postage due upon any article of mail matter which he may deliver, 
without having previously affixed and canceled such special stamps as hereinbefore provided, 
or who shall fail to affix such stamps, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, on 
conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of fifty dollars." 

In accordance with this Act the following official circular was issued • 

SPECIAL STAMPS FOR POSTAGE DUE. 

Post Office Department, 

Office of the Third Assistant Postmaster General, 

Division of Postage Stamps, Stamped Envelopes, and Postal Cards. 

Washington, D. C, May 5, 1879. 

By Sections 26 and 27 of the act of Congress " making appropriations for the service of 
the Post Office Department for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880, and for other purposes," 
approved March 3, 1870, it is made the duty of postmasters to affix to all mail matter that Circular announcing 
has arrived at destination without full payment of postage, and before delivery of the the issue of postage 
same, an amount of stamps equal to the postage due— the stamps to be of such special design due stamps. 

as the Postmaster General may direct 

To avoid any confusion in the accounts of postmasters with the Aduitor, and on account 
of the length of time necessary to prepare for the change contemplated by the above section 



33° POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. ISSUE OF I 879. 

in the mode of collecting and accounting for short paid postage, it has been decided to have 
the same go into practical operation on the 1st of July next. The Department, however, will 
begin issuing, some tune during the present month, in anticipation of the wants of postmasters 
special stamps for the collection of postage due, of the denominations of 1, 2, 3 and 5 cents. 
* * * * The color of all is the same — a reddish brown 

These stamps are intended exclusively for the collection of postage due on matter 
arriving at destination through the mails, and are to be used in combination wherever 
required to cover unusual amounts of postage. They are to be canceled in the customary 
way, after being attached to mail matter, and are never to be sold or received by postmasters 
for prepayment of postage. 

Postmasters must distinctly understand that these stamps are not to be used until the 
1st of July, 1870 

A supply of them will be sent at first to a'l post offices, in advance of requisitions from 
postmasters, and charged to their account ; but afterwards they must be ordered on blank 
forms (No. 3285) to be furnished by the First Assistant Postmaster General. With the first 
supply of stamps, however, blank requisitions for future use will be inclosed. 

The stamps will be accounted for to the Auditor the same as other stamps, and will 
enter into the monthly report of stamps &c, received, sold, and on hand, required by the 
Regulations to be made by postmasters at Presidential offices to the Third Assistant 
Postmaster General. 

On the next page of this circular will be found the sections of the new Postal law and 
Regulations relating to the above described stamps, which are published in advance for the 
information and guidance of postmasters. The distinguishing numbers of the sections can- 
not now be given ; but the instructions are here printed in the same order in which they will 
appear in the forthcoming volume of the new Postal Regulations. 

A. D. Hazen, 

Third Assistant Postmaster General. 

Among other provisions of the regulations were the following: 

" At all post offices where the free delivery service has not been established, postmasters 
will not affix the postage due stamps until the delivery of the matter has been requested. At 
all free delivery post offices, matters which has not been sufficiently prepaid will be rated up, 
and postage due stamps of the necessary denominations will be affixed as soon as the matter 
is received at the post office, unless an order is on file for a letter to be forwarded, in which 
case it will be forwarded without affixing the postage due stamp." 

The stamps of the denominations i, 2, 3 and 5 cents were first issued 
Dates of issue, to postmasters on May 9th, 1879; those of the other three values, 10, 30 and 
50 cents, were issued on September 19th of the same year. 

The stamps are thus officially described: 

: ' These stamps are alike, except as to the denominations, which are 
expressed by Arabic numerals, in the middle, upon an elliptic ground of 
Design and color, delicate lathe work. Upon the upper line of this ground are the words 
'postage due' in white capitals; on the lower border is the denomination, 
in letters of the same kind. On the left and right side, respectively, and 
separating these inscriptions, are the letters ' u ' and ' s ' upon white shields. 
There is a complex angular ornamentation of light line work surrounding 
this, and the whole rests upon a darker colored beveled tablet, of which but 
little can be seen, though it covers the entire stamp, which is a parallelogram 
1 by 25-32 of an inch in dimensions. The color of all the stamps is a dull 
red or reddish brown." 

The paper is the thick, soft, porous, white wove paper, which was 
always used by the American Bank Note Company. 

The gum varies from pure white to brownish. 

The perforation is 12 and the stamps measure 20x25*^111111. 

The stamps were at first printed in a brown ink having a yellow tone. 
This was followed by various shades of red-brown and eventually by lake or, 
as it is usually termed, claret. 



POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1879. 331 

The following colors and varieties have been noted: 

Perforated 12. Reference List. 

Thick Soft Porous Wove Paper. 

May 9th, 1879. 1 cent yellow-brown, pale brown, brown, deep brown, 

light red-brown, red-brown, lake-brown, carmine- 
brown, rose-brown, dull-rose, claret, light claret 

2 cents yellow-brown, deep yellow-brown, pale brown, 

brown, deep brown, light red-brown, red-brown, 
lake-brown, carmine-brown, rose-brown, dull rose, 
claret, dark claret 

3 cents yellow-brown, pale brown, brown, deep brown, 

red-brown, lake-brown, carmine-brown, claret, 
light claret, dark claret 
5 cents yellow-brown, deep yellow-brown, pale brown, 
brown, deep brown, red-brown, carmine-brown, 
rose-brown, claret, light claret, dark claret 
Sept. 19th, 1879. IO cents yellow-brown, deep yellow-brown, pale brown 

brown, deep brown, red-brown, lake-brown, car- 
mine brown, rose-brown, dull rose, claret, light 
claret 

30 cents bistre-brown, pale brown, brown, deep brown, 
red-brown, lake-brown, claret, dark claret 

50 cents bistre-brown, pale brown, brown, deep brown, 
red-brown, claret, dark claret. 

Variety: 
10 cents yellow-brown Imperforate 

The plates each contained two hundred stamps, arranged in two panes 
of one hundred (ten rows of ten) placed side by side. Each impression was 
divided between the panes, making half sheets of one hundred stamps. As piates. 

usual, this division left one side of each sheet imperforate. The line of 
separation was marked by arrow heads in the upper and lower margins. The 
imprint was " American bank note company," in colored capitals. It was 
placed above the two stamps in the middle of the top row of each pane and 
below the corresponding stamps in the bottom row. Between each imprint 
and the central line of the plate was " No", followed by the plate number in 
slanting Arabic numerals: 

The plate numbers were: l-iate numbers. 



1 cent 


No. 


3*3, 


3'4- 


2 cents 


No. 


3'5, 


464. 


3 cents 


No. 


3' 6 - 


3i7- 


5 cents 


No. 


3.8. 




10 cents 


No. 


33 1 - 




30 cents 


No. 


33 2 - 




50 cents 


No. 


333: 





332 



POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1879. 



Postage due .stamps 
used to pay regular 

postage. 



Special printing. 



" Specimen 

stamps. 



Deliveries to 
postmasters. 



Although the law expressly forbade postmasters to receive postage due 
stamps in prepayment of postage, instances are known in which this was done, 
and in at least one of them the postmaster himself was responsible for the 
infraction. In the American Philatelist, volume III, page 100, is an article 
on this subject, a portion of which (the extract here quoted) is reprinted 
from the Independent Philatelist for March, 1885: 

" On the afternoon of February 14, 1885, the post office at Bergen Point, N. J., ran 
short of the one cent stamps on account of the increased local mail of drop letters, and in 
order to meet the demand the postmaster was obliged to utilize the one cent unpaid. 

This we learned late on Monday afternoon, and on arrival at the post office found a 
new supply of one cent stamps ready for customers. The postmaster informs us that about 
fifty were in use on the afternoon of February 14, and the morning of the 16th, 1885." 

The reader is reminded that February 14th is St. Valentine's day 
which, in the year 1885, fell on Saturday. This will explain the sudden in- 
crease in the number of drop letters and the reason that no stamps were 
used on the 15th. 

I have seen an envelope, mailed at Losley, Va., on August 10th, 1893, 
on which the regular postage was paid by means of a two cent due stamp of 
the 1879 type, printed in deep claret. The letter was delivered to the ad- 
dressee in Richmond, Va., without any claim for unpaid postage. 

A special printing of the postage due stamps was made in 1879 to 
supply the wants of collectors and dealers. This will be further described 
in the chapter on reprints and re-issues. All values of these stamps, printed 
in red brown, exist with the surcharge " specimen " in red. These were 
probably prepared for exchanging through the Universal Postal Union. 

From the annual reports of the Postmaster General and other sources 
we obtain the following statistics of stamps issued to deputy postmasters: 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1879: 
Quarter Ending: 
Sept. 30, 1878. Dec. 31, 1878. Men. 31, 1879. June 30, 1879. Total. 
5.755.400 5,755.400 



1 cent 

2 cents 

3 cents 

5 cents 

10 cents 

30 cents ...... ...... 

50 cents ...... 

Whole number of stamps 15,667,600. Value $365,957.00. 
Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1880 
Quarter Ending : 
Dec. 31, 1879. Mch. 31, 1880 
258,000 349.9°° 

146,200 167,700 

640,400 1,013,000 
78,000 
65,800 
5.000 
10,000 



642,900 642.900 

8,396,000 8,396,000 

873.3 o 873,300 



1 cent 

2 cents 

3 cents 
5 cents 

10 cents 
30 cents 
50 cents 



Sept. 30, 1879. 
196,900 
200,800 
390,700 
377,700 
194,200 
47,480 
35, 8 70 



152,400 

123,400 

700 

100 



June 30, 1880. 
394,200 
180,300 
955,800 
159,400 
1 19,400 
11,100 



10,050 



Whole number of stamps 6,284,500. Value $251,836.00, 



Total. 

1,199,000 

695,000 

2,999,900 

767,500 

502,800 

64,280 

56,020 



POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1 879. 



333 



Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1881 : 
Quarter Ending : 





Sept. 30, 1880. Dec. 31, 1880. 


Mch. 31, 1: 


38 1 


. June 30, 1881 


Total. 


1 cent 


279,100 465,600 


400,500 




450,500 


1,595,700 


2 cents 


129,700 227,900 


142,500 




231,950 


73 2 ,050 


3 cents 


967,600 1,231,200 


1,147,900 




1,287,500 


4,634,200 


5 cents 


91,060 124,980 


170,900 




133. 8 40 


520,780 


10 cents 


130,740 113, 510 


i37, 5°° 




170,500 


55 2 > 2 5° 


30 cents 


50 1,400 


200 




7,650 


9,3°o 


50 cents 




400 




830 


1,43° 


WhoL 


2 number of stamps 8,045,7 


10. Value 


•> 


154,393.00. 





Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, il 
Quarter Ending : 





Sept. 30, 1881. 


Dec. 31, 1881. 


Mch. 31, 1882. 


June 30, 1 


882. Total. 


1 cent 


440,100 


525,100 


551,200 


811,950 


2,328,350 


2 cents 


i37, 2 5 


203,750 


228,950 


388,350 


958,300 


3 cents 


1,389,900 


1,763,200 


1,784,000 


1,864,550 


6,801,650 


5 cents 


86,560 


127,460 


137,940 


180,600 


532,56o 


10 cents 


128,550 


137,270 


197,230 


276,880 


739,930 


30 cents 


620 


1,620 


760 


8,050 


11,050 


50 cents 


300 


400 


570 


2,200 


3,470 





Sept. 30, 18c 


1 cent 


580,850 


2 cents 


190,600 


3 cents 


1,718,250 


5 cents 


H7,540 


10 cents 


205,070 


30 cents 


10,730 


50 cents 


10,300 



Mch. 31, 1883. 


June 30, 1883, 


Total. 


769,550 


578,450 


2,475,375 


366,500 


436,650 


1,244,475 


2,123,750 


1,681,950 


7,383,530 


198,760 


114,600 


525,145 


280,310 


230,220 


948,965 


1,310 


2,810 


17,960 


3,100 


400 


M,450 



Whole number of stamps 11,375,310. Value $352,170.00. 
Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1883 
Quarter Ending : 
Dec. 31, 18 
546,525 
250,725 
2,859,580 

94,245 

233,365 

3,no 

650 

Whole number of stamps 12,609,900. Value $404,915.90. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1884 

Quarter Ending : 

Dec. 31, 1883. Mch 31, 1884. June 30, 1884. 

863,900 912,600 837,700 

2,032,100 2,204,000 1,990,400 

50,500 11,700 

76,500 158,060 119,800 

147,370 402,380 251,220 

2,210 16,050 1,170 

1,848 5,010 ...... 

Whole number of stamps 13,612,198. Value $353,611.00. 





Sept. 30, li. 


1 cent 


853,300 


2 cents 


1,679,100 


3 cents 


662,050 


5 cents 


100,190 


10 cents 


220,300 


30 cents 


6,93° 


50 cents 


5,8io 



Total. 
3,467,500 
7,905,600 
724,250 

454,55° 

1,021,270 

26,360 

12,668 



334 POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1879. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1885 : 
Quarter Ending : 
Sept. 30, 1884. Dec. 31, 1884. Mch. 31, 1885. June 30, 1885. Total. 



1 cent 


604,600 


75 8 >3°° 


81 1,200 


880,250 


3,o54,35o 


2 cents 


', 8 43,55 


2,281,800 


2,246,250 


1,880,900 


8,252,500 


3 cents 




10,500 


55.500 


6,700 


72,700 


5 cents 


71,220 


86,920 


"94,540 


130,480 


483,160 


10 cents 


195,240 


175. 3°° 


211,57° 


202,315 


784,425 


30 cents 


5.35o 


7,400 


6,540 


5»'4° 


18,430 


50 cents 


5,000 




70 


106 


5, 176 





Sept. 30, 18 


1 cent 


473,800 


2 cents 


534,250 


3 cents 


700 


5 cents 


54,120 


10 cents 


124,900 


30 cents 


300 


50 cents 





ch. 31, 1886. 


June 30, 1886. 


Total. 


712,800 


591,800 


2,392,5°° 


400,100 


545,350 


1,881,100 


5,600 


5,000 


61,300 


134,780 


96,600 


359,28o 


234,340 


150,670 


771,110 


2,130 


520 


3,260 


1,000 




1,100 



Whole number of stamps 12,670,741. Value $308,492.00. 
Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1886 
Quarter Ending : 

Dec. 31, 1 88; 
614,100 
41 1,400 
50,000 
73,78o 
261,200 
310 
100 
Whole number of stamps 5,469,650. Value $159,989.00. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1887 

Quarter Ending : 

Sept. 30, 1886. Dec. 31, i88< 
952,800 

907,350 

5,ooo 
101,460 
273,440 

5,000 

5,020 
Whole number of stamps 8,246,534. Value $235,136.00. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1888 : 

Quarter Ending : 



1 cent 


817,200 


2 cents 


652,300 


3 cents 


50,000 


5 cents 


182,160 


10 cents 


188,850 


30 cents 


1,020 


50 cents 


1,000 



ch. 31, 1887. 


June 30, 188 


7. Total. 


843,000 


823,200 


3,436,200 


909,250 


725,700 


3,194,600 


12,700 


200 


67,900 


135,000 


97,5 8 o 


516,200 


328,210 


219,840 


1,010,340 


5,150 


2,060 


13,230 


1,000 


1,044 


8,064 





Sept. 30, 1887. 


Dec. 31, 1887. 


Mch. 31, 1888. 


June 30, 1888. 


Total. 


1 cent 


936,600 


1,403,900 


1,868,600 


',3 I2 ,5°° 


5,521,600 


2 cents 


705,950 


992,500 


970,800 


661,650 


3,330,900 


3 cents 


60,000 


12,500 


60,200 


4,400 


137,100 


5 cents 


83,800 


160,440 


215,440 


120,780 


580,460 


10 cents 


212,300 


320,740 


435, l6 ° 


246,340 


1,214,540 


30 cents 




3,300 


10,900 


580 


14,780 


50 cents 




24 


5,35° 


818 


6,192 



Whole number of stamps 10,805,572. Value $283,954.00. 



POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1 879. 



335 



Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1889 
Quarter Ending : 





Sept. 30, 1888. 


Dec. 31, 1888. 


Mch. 31, 1889. 


June 30, 1889. 


Total. 


1 cent 


1 j5 i 3>5 00 


1,774,700 


1,515,200 


1,517,200 


6,320,600 


2 cents 


',035,850 


851,350 


880,850 


792,150 


3,560,200 


3 cents 


55> 2 °° 


1 1,100 


70,200 


12,400 


148,900 


5 cents 


183,360 


102,260 


130,260 


103,340 


519,220 


10 cents 


297,020 


380,120 


328,960 


334,ioo 


1,340,200 


30 cents 


50 


220 


640 


...... 


910 


50 cents 


3° 


100 


10 




140 


Whole 


number of stamps 11,890 


,170. Value$ 


299,2or.oo. 




Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1890 








Quarter 


Ending : 








Sept. 30, 1889. 


Dec. 31, 1889. 


Mch. 31, 1890. 


June 30, 1890. 


Total. 


1 cent 


1,980,200 


1,540,900 


1,71 r,8oo 


1,839,300 


7,072,200 


2 cents 


1,261,200 


1,059,100 


1,051,100 


1,253,000 


4,624,400 


3 cents 


23,200 


77,5°o 


25,25° 


13,000 


138,950 


5 cents 


i33, x 6o 


100,060 


140,370 


131,300 


504,890 


10 cents 


3°°>39° 


282,260 


383,020 


320,840 


1,286,510 


30 cents 


5,45o 


1,050 


i,3 TO 


3,100 


10,910 


50 cents 


100 




130 


100 


330 



Whole number of stamps 13,638,190. Value $324,712.00. 
Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1891 
Quarter Ending : 

Sept. 30, 1890. Dec. 31, 181 

1 cent 1,915,600 1,887,700 

2 cents 1,286,700 1,146,600 

3 cents 73,3°° 24,700 
5 cents 116,060 137,640 

10 cents 340,060 340,820 

30 cents 320 40 

50 cents 100 100 

Whole number of stamps 14,974,820. Value $361,573.00. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1892 

Quarter Ending : 
Dec. 31, 1891. Mch. 31, 1 



Mch. 31, 1891. 


June 30, 1891 


Total. 


i,99 ',5°° 


1,877,500 


7,673,300 


1,263,900 


1,359,650 


5,056,850 


25,600 


70,200 


193,800 


157,800 


143,860 


555,400 


420,940 


391,340 


1,493,160 


310 


1,000 


1,670 


300 


100 


600 



1 cent 

2 cents 

3 cents 
5 cents 

10 cents 
30 cents 
50 cents 



Sept. 30, 1! 

2,012,000 

1,293,300 

26,500 

189,100 

301,990 

2,420 

200 



2,048,100 

1,482,600 

38,700 

132,500 

456,600 

1,700 

1,300 



2,458,900 

1,748,400 

80,300 

251,800 

507,400 

1,200 

],5°o 



Whole number of stamps 17,551,410. Value 



June 30, i! 

2,270,800 

1,613,100 

31,800 

167,600 

431,200 

300 
100 
425,970.00. 



Total. 

8,789,800 

6,137,400 

177,300 

741,000 

1,697,190 

5,620 

3,100 



336 POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. — ISSUE OF 1879. — ISSUES OF 1894-95. 



i cent 


2,048,950 


2 cents 


I , 619,550 


3 cents 


74,35° 


5 cents 


173,75° 


io cents 


3 6 4,55° 


30 cents 


1,050 


50 cents 


850 



2,211,500 

1,698,000 

50,400 

213,200 

35 2 , 7°° 

1,400 

200 



June 30, 1893. 
2,657,000 

1,845,35° 

41,300 

252,860 

389,800 

2,000 

IOO 

^3,5 8 3-5°- 



Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1893 
Quarter Ending : 
Sept. 30, 1892. Dec. 31, 1892. Mch. 31, 1893 
2,050,000 

',435> 6 °° 

26,900 

168,700 

418,500 

2,200 

I,2CO 

Whole number of stamps 18,101,960. Value 
Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1894 
Quarter Ending : 

Sept. 30, 1893. Dec. 31, 1893. Mch. 31, 1 
2,286,300 
1,889,900 
18,800 
121,380 

394,94° 
2,880 

i,i3 2 

Whole number of stamps 18,038,146. Value $428,816.00. 

Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1895 
Quarter Ending : 



Total. 
8,967,450 

6,59 8 ,5°° 
192,950 
808,510 

1,525,55° 
6,650 

2 ,35° 



1 cent 


1,866,200 


2 cents 


',391,75° 


3 cents 


69,000 


5 cents 


167,840 


10 cents 


3 6 6,33° 


30 cents 


1,180 


50 cents 


300 



Ach. 31, 1894. 


June 30, 1894. 


Total. 


3,068,000 


2,22 r,400 


8,441,900 


1,646,75° 


2,203,300 


7,131,700 


125,500 


29,600 


242,900 


180,460 


134,100 


603,780 


485,920 


361,280 


1,608,470 


1,160 


1,070 


6,290 


574 


1,100 


3,106 





Sept. 30, 1894. 


Dec. 31, 1894. Mch. 31, 1895. 


June 30, 1 


895. 


Total. 


1 cent 


I,35°,3 6 9 
















I,35°,369 


2 cents 


50,164 
















50,164 


3 cents 


29,500 




92,600 




54,200 




14,000 




190,300 


5 cents 


147,160 




197,980 




21 1,240 




47,940 




604,320 


10 cents 


277,780 
















277,780 


30 cents 


2,37° 




14,470 




6,100 




49° 




23,43° 


50 cents 


i,I5 6 




10,800 




2,604 




470 




I5,°3° 


Whole 


number of 


stamps 2,511 


,393- 


Value 


$92 


,753-97- 







Issues of 1894-95. 

On July 1st, 1894 the contract of the American Bank Note Company 
for the manufacture of postage stamps expired. Such reserve stock of stamps 
as was in the vaults of the Company was transferred to Washington and issued 
as required. Concerning this stock the annual report of the Third Assistant 
Postmaster General, dated October 31st, 1894, says : "Of the postage-due 
stamps, the transferred stock of the 1 cent denomination was exhausted August 
14th, 1894 ; the 2-cent, July 20th, 1894 ; and the 10-cent, September 24th, 
1894." The other values were not exhausted until April, 1895." 



POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. — ISSUES OF 1894-95. 



337 



It has been reported, on supposedly good authority, that the Bureau of 
Engraving and Printing made printings of the postage-due stamps from the 
plates of the American Bank Note Co. This statement has, until recently, supposed printings 
been generally accepted. But it is now officially denied that any such print- f, ' oni P lates » f * ho 

J r J J American liank 

ings were made and the records of the Bureau confirm this denial. The Note Co. 

stamps which have, heretofore, been assigned to these supposed printings were 
distinguished by the transparency of the paper and the whiteness of the gum. 
We must now conclude that they were merely a late product of the American 
Bank Note Co. 

In the report of the Third Assistant Postmaster General for 1894 (page 
476), we read : 

Change of Postage-Due Stamps. 



It was also decided, upon the suggestion of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, to 
make a change in the designs of the postage-due stamps — the change consisting of a reduction 
in the size of the stamps and some immaterial changes in the general design. The denomi- 
nations of the stamps are those of the old series, and the color was intended to be the same 
but, owing to some difference in the character of the engraved plates, the former color has 
not been exactly preserved. The new color is somewhat deeper than the old, and some of 
the earlier issues of the stamps have even been printed a bright red. 

The following is a description of the new stamps : 

The shape of the whole engraving is oblong, the size being seven-eighths by very 
nearly three fourths of an inch. In the center is the indication of denomination — large white 
Arabic numerals being used — surrounded by fine lathework, forming an equilateral device 
with thin white edges, rounded corners, and curving sides — the four corners of the outline 
pointing to the top and bottom and two sides of the stamp Above this is a semi-circular 
panel bearing in white capitals the words " postage due", with a small cross at each end, 
and above this still, in the two upper corners, are the letters "u" and "s", over which, 
and descending some distance on the two sides, is a line of ribbed ruling. At the bottom 
of the stamp, in a curved panel, are the words of the denomination in white capitals, above 
which, coming from each of the lower corners, is a large original scroll ornament somewhat 
resembling a cornucopia. 

The stamps measure 18^2x22 mm. 

They were at first printed on a thin white wove paper, usually semi- 
transparent. Afterwards, in common with other issues of the same period ) 
they appeared on paper watermarked with the letters " U. S. P. S." They 
have been reported, as have the stamps of the regular issue, on paper which> 
in addition to the watermark, showed laid lines, and also on paper which 
was apparently double. It is claimed, by those who should speak with 
authority on the subject, that neither of these varieties of paper was inten- 
tionally made or used and that they must be due to some accident of 
manufacture. Such varieties appear to be of only trifling interest. 

The gum varies from smooth to rough and from white to brownish. 
The perforation is as usual. 

The colors are : 

Perforated 12. 



Aug. 14, 1894. 
July 20th, 1894. 
Apl. 27th, 1895. 



White Wove Paper. 

1 cent pale vermilion, vermilion, violet-rose, pale claret, 

claret, deep claret, lake 

2 cents vermilion, dark vermilion, claret, bright claret, 

deep claret, lake 

3 cents deep claret, lake 

5 cents claret, bright claret, deep claret, lake 



Announcement of 
the issue. 



Color. 



Itesign. 



Paper. 



Reference List. 



33» 



POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. — ISSUES OF 1894-95. 



Sept. 24th, 1894. 
Apl. 27th, 1895. 



Aug. 1st, 1895. 

Sept. 14th, 1895. 

Oct. 30th, 1895. 
Oct. 15th, 1895. 

Sept. 14th, 1895. 
Aug. 21st, 1897. 
Mch. 17th, 1896. 



10 cents lake, brownish lake 

30 cents lilac-rose, violet-rose, rose, claret, lake 

50 cents lilac-rose, violet-rose, brownish claret, lake 

Watermarked USPS 

1 cent dark carmine, violet-rose, claret, bright claret, deep 
claret, brownish claret, lake 

2 cents violet-rose, claret, bright claret, brownish claret, 
deep claret, lake 

3 cents crimson, deep claret, lake 
5 cents claret, bright claret, deep claret, brownish claret, 

lake 
10 cents claret, deep claret, lake 
30 cents lake 
50 cents brownish claret, lake 

The plates for these stamps are made up of two panes, placed side by 
Plates. side Each pane contains one hundred stamps, arranged in ten rows of ten. 

The impressions are divided vertically, between the panes, at the time of per- 
forating, thus leaving one edge of each sheet blank. 

A line is drawn across the plate between the fifth and sixth horizontal 
rows. This line terminates in arrow heads in each side margin. There are 
imprints. two varieties of the imprint. The first is " Bureau, Engraving & Printing," 

in small lower-case letters and initial capitals, on a small rectangular panel, 
surrounded by a thin colored line. The second variety is made by adding a 
rosette and a three-pointed ornament at each end of the panel. The imprint 
is placed above the two stamps in the middle of the top row of each pane 
and below the corresponding stamps of the bottom row. The plate number 
is placed at the inner side of each imprint. The plate numbers are : 

Plate numbers. Without Watermark. 

No. 57, 147. 
No. 34, 60, 159. 

No. 70. 
No. 71. 

No. 72. 
No. 73. 
No. 74. 

With Watermark. 

No. 57, 147, 246, 267. 
No. 60, 159, 247, 268. 
No. 70, 254. 
No. 71, 255. 
No. 72, 256. 
No. 73, 260. 
No. 74, 261. 
Four plates for one cent stamps, numbered 66, 67, 68 and 69, were 
also prepared, but they were never put to press. 



I 


cent 


2 


cents 


3 


cents 


5 


cents 


10 


cents 


3° 


cents 


5° 


cents 


1 


cent 


2 


cents 


3 


cents 


5 


cents 


10 


cents 


3° 


cents 


5° 


cents 



POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. — ISSUES OF 1894-95. 339 

From the annual reports of the Postmaster General and other sources 
we obtain the following statistics of quantities of these stamps issued to 
deputy postmasters : 



Stamps issued during the fiscal 
Quarter 


year ending J 
Ending : 


une 30th, 1895 




Deliveries to 

postmasters. 


1 cent 


Sept. 30, 1894. 
883,531 


Dec. 31, 1894. 
2,233,600 


Mch. 31, 1895. 
2,391,100 


June 30, 1895. 
',939.850 


Total. 
7,448,081 




2 cents 


1,825,036 


2,016,250 


2,436,400 


1,864,450 


8,142,136 




3 cents 








39,100 


39,100 




5 cents 








88,200 


88,200 




10 cents 


62,600 


337,790 


35i,87o 


339,"° 


1,091,370 




30 cents 








700 


700 




50 cents 








890 


890 




Whole number of 


stamps 16,810,477. Value 


$352,698.53. 







Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1896 : 
Quarter Ending : 





Sept. 30, 1895. 


Dec. 31, 1895. 


Mch. 31, 1896. 


June 30, 1896. 


Total. 


1 cent 


1,822,900 


2,366,800 


2,439,400 


1,953,700 


8,582,800 


2 cents 


1,578,400 


2,4 5,550 


2,236,450 


2,029,450 


8,249,850 


3 cents 


95,55o 


98,100 


92,500 


96,900 


383,050 


5 cents 


128,550 


127,960 


180,860 


175,540 


612,910 


10 cents 


325,950 


400,320 


4>9> I 5° 


359,!9o 


1,504,610 


30 cents 


2,220 


2,040 


4,040 


1,760 


10,060 


50 cents 


1,390 


2,634 


3,35° 


1,060 


8,434 



Whole number of stamps 19,351,714. Value $450,658.00. 
Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1897 
Quarter Ending : 





Sept. 30, 1896. 


Dec. 31, 1896. 


Mch. 31, 1897. 


June 30, 1897. 


Total. 


1 cent 


2,259,600 


2,106,000 


2,062,900 


2,285,000 


8,713,500 


2 cents 


r, 937, 900 


2,130,650 


2,072,800 


2,3'5,400 


8,456,750 


3 cents 


39,400 


108,500 


49,600 


103,100 


300,600 


5 cents 


'33,88o 


237,440 


181,600 


153,740 


706,660 


10 cents 


277,590 


344,79° 


394,4io 


3 6 6,45o 


1,383,240 


30 cents 


2,790 


2,060 


1,180 


1,120 


7,150 


50 cents 


2,160 


1, 5 2 ° 


1,010 


57o 


5,260 



Whole number of stamps 19,573,160. Value $443,720.00. 
Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1898 : 
Quarter Ending : 



1 cent 


Sept 
2, 


. 3°- l8 97- 
186,800 


Dec. 31, 1897. 
2,506,400 


Mch. 31, 1898. 
2,637,600 


June 30, 1898. 
2,487,600 


Total. 
9,818,400 


2 cents 


2, 


339,350 


2,511,800 


2,666,250 


2,771,500 


10,288,900 


3 cents 




58,000 


119 200 


114,100 


186,000 


477,300 


5 cents 
10 cents 




123,820 
245,650 


149,400 
338,730 


262,360 
408,060 


246,740 
492,990 


782,320 
1,485,430 


30 cents 




740 


1,420 


1,650 


i,3 IQ 


5,120 


50 cents 1,610 
Whole number 


1,650 6,470 
of stamps 22,868,230. Value 


1,030 

$512,856.00, 


10,760 



34° 



POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. — ISSUES OF 1894-95. 



Deliveries to the 

Universal Postal 

Union. 



Universal Postal 

Congress. 



" Specimen ' 
stamps. 



Mch. 31, 1899. 


June 30, 1899. 


Total. 


949,000 


918,700 


5,001,400 


2,450,400 


2,i5 T .35° 


9,154.650 


97,600 


39.55° 


3 l8 >95° 


232,600 


i35>75° 


672,050 


4'4,95° 


276,500 


1,309,170 


33° 


7,210 


10,400 


20 


1,070 


i,47° 



1 cent 


1,172,300 


2 cents 


2,888,900 


3 cents 


111,600 


5 cents 


i59,5°° 


10 cents 


39 6 ,95° 


30 cents 


460 


50 cents 


39° 



Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1899 : 
Quarter Ending : 
Sept. 30, 1898. Dec. 31, 189 

1 cent 2,020,300 1,113,400 

2 cents 2,405,500 2,147,400 

3 cents 9 6 ,3°° 85,500 
5 cents 119,500 184,200 

10 cents 243,120 374,600 

30 cents 2,310 550 

50 cents 160 200 

Whole number of stamps *i6,468,090. Value *$4i 1,050.00. 
*4,5oo "specimens", value $750, included. 
Stamps issued during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1900 : 
Quarter Ending : 
Sept. 30, 1899. Dec. 31, 1899. Mch. 31, 1900. June 30, 1900. Total. 

1,500,000 1,722,200 1,084,000 5,478,500 
3,137,200 3,561,600 2,949,500 12,537,200 
73,100 121,500 104,200 410,400 

261,800 270,600 161,800 853,700 

371,100 561,850 35 2 ,55° 1,682,450 

540 1,690 2,740 5,430 

570 60 710 1,730 

Whole number of stamps 20,969,410. Value $531,265.00. 
In the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1895, there were delivered to the 
Universal Postal Union at Berne 750 copies each of the 1, 2 and io cent 
stamps. In the succeeding year a like quantity of the other values of the 
series were supplied to the Union. In the reports of the Postmaster General 
for those years, these stamps are included in the tables of deliveries to post- 
masters. 

In the year 1898, 200 stamps of each denomination of this series were 
delivered "for the Post Office album ", and 125 sets were overprinted in blue 
" universal- — postal — congress " and presented to the delegates attending 
that congress. These two lots are not included in the statistics quoted from 
the reports of the Postmaster General. 

The 4,500 " specimens " referred to at the foot of the table of deliveries 
to postmasters in the fiscal year 1899, consisted of 750 copies of each value 
of the series except the one cent. It is understood that these were all sur- 
charged " Specimen " in small Gothic type, in black or magenta ink, by means 
of a hand-stamp. 

The table of deliveries for the fiscal year 1900 includes 700 copies 
(100 of each denomination), valued at $101.00, which were delivered to the 
Third Assistant Postmaster General as " specimens ". 

During the last three years large quantities of postage due stamps have 
been overprinted for Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines. As they were 
taken from stock in the Bureau of Engraving and Printing which had not 
been transferred to the Post Office department, the statistics of deliveries are 
not affected, 



POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. — PROVISIONAL ISSUES. 



341 



Provisional Issues. 



From time to time, and in different parts of the country, postmasters 
have resorted to a variety of makeshifts to supply temporary shortages of 
certain values of the postage due stamps. Such provisional issues have 
usually emenated from small post offices and the majority of them seem to be 
of entirely honest intent and free from any suspicion of having been made 
for philatelic purposes. While these issues were not authorized by the Post 
Office Department, the fact that they were made by postmasters gives them 
some standing. They are certainly interesting to a specialist. 

The following varieties have come under my notice : 

In the collection of Mr. F. O. Conant is a cover which was received 
in Berlin Falls, N. H., on April 30th, 1880. The cover is stamped "Due 3 " 
and a three cent stamp of the Post Office Department has been affixed, to 
represent the short postage, and has been duly cancelled. A more detailed 
description of this cover was given on page 267. 

In the American Journal of Philately for August, 1895, I find a com- 
munication wherein it is stated that provisional postage due stamps were in 
use in Detroit, Michigan, from June 21st to 27th of that year. I have not 
seen these stamps but infer from the description that they were made by sur- 
charging (probably with a hand-stamp), the one and two cent stamps of the 
regular issue "Due 1" and "Due 2" and also by a similar surcharge in 
manuscript. 

In the same year in Winside, Nebraska, one cent stamps of the 1890 
issue were surcharged " due i " in a circle and used as postage due stamps. 
The circle is 19mm. in diameter. The word "due" is in large capitals, 
6mm. high, and is placed above the " 1 ". The surcharge is in magenta ink 
and appears to have been made with a rubber hand-stamp. I have seen 
copies used on parts of the wrappers of newspapers and cancelled July 20th 
and August 6th, 1895. 

In North Branch, N. J., two cent postage due stamps were bisected 
diagonally and used as one cent stamps. The only copy at hand is on a piece 
of the cover of a magazine which is dated June, 1895. 

Mr. W. F. Goerner has shown me a similar provisional which was 
used in Warwick, R. I., in 1897. In this case two cents stamps were divided 
vertically. Mr. Goerner writes me: 

" In September, 1897, while in Bayside one evening I called upon Mr. O., who 
stopped there during the summer. Looking over some of the periodicals of the day I was 
quite surprised to find one or two of them bearing the enclosed provisionals Further search, 
then and some days later, revealed eight copies. Bayside at that time, had no post office — 
the mail coming through Warwick. Not knowing whether the stamp was affixed at 
Providence (whence the mail was originally sent) or Warwick, I went to the latter office to 
inquire. 1 found a young woman, the assistant, in charge and asked her if the split stamps 
had been used at that office. She said : Yes, that they were out of one cent ones and that 
the postmaster had cut them before and so she supposed it all right to do so and she hoped 
they had done nothing wrong and that no harm would come from it. 

1 did not understand what she meant but she soon told me that she thought I might 
be a post office inspector and that she meant to tell the truth. 

If I asked her how long they had been using the stamps in this way, 1 have forgotten 
what she told me. But it is my impression that she said it was not very long and that not 
many were so used. The earliest copy that 1 saw was on the Literary ^Digest of August 7th, 
and the latest on the same paper of September 1 ith." 



Post Offlce Dept. 

stamp used to pay 

postage due. 



Ordinary postage 

stamps surcharged 

as postage due 

stamps. 



Bisected stamps. 



342 POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. PROVISIONAL ISSUES. 

A more ambitious provisional was issued in Jefferson, Iowa, in October 

1895. On this occasion two cent postage due stamps were overprinted on 

stamps bisected each side " Due 1 cent " and subsequently divided vertically and each half 

and surcharged. usec ] as a one cen t stamp. The surcharge is in black and on my copy reads 

upward. The following brief history of this provisional is taken from the 

Philatelic Era for May 7th, 1898 : 

United States Post Office. 

Jefferson, Iowa, Februaiy 12, 1898. 
To Whom it may Concern : 

This is to certify that about the 6th day of October, 1895, my supply of one cent post- 
age due stamps was exhausted. I had made requisition for a new supply and expected them 
daily, and pending their arrival had a local printer print " Postage Due 1 Cent" on a few 
half two cent due stamps and these half stamps I used on matter requiring one cent stamps, 
until arrival of one cent due stamps Not more than twenty of these one half stamps were 
used, as 1 only had thirty printed and had about a dozen left when the new supply arrived, 
after which the half stamps were not used. I am not a stamp dealer or collector ; know 
nothing about it and am not in any way interested in it. 

Yours, 

(Signed) F. R. McCarthy, 

Postmaster, Jefferson, la. 

I have two covers, used in Jersey City, N. J., in 1897. One is a large 
envelope, cancelled November 20th* and marked " Due 6 ". In payment of 
Postage due paid by this shortage three 2 cent stamps of the regular issue were affixed and hand- 
ordinary postage stamped in purple " Due 2 cts." The surcharge was applied after the stamps 
were placed on the cover. The other envelope bears a one cent stamp, 
similarly surcharged in magenta ink. The date of use of the latter is not 
legible. 

I have seen several envelopes which were received in Richmond, Va., 
between September 20th and 23rd, 1897. Each was marked as being in- 
sufficiently prepaid, and the deficient postage was supplied by two cent 
stamps of the regular issue instead of due stamps. 

I have also seen a cover, received in Beaver Dam, Wis., on October 
10th, 1894, on which a shortage of one cent was paid by a stamp of the 
Columbian series. 



Reprints, Re-Issues and Special Printings. 



In this chapter will be considered not only those printings of obsolete 
issues which may rightly be called reprints (happily a limited number) but 
also all re-issues and special printings which, while available for postal pur- 
poses, were issued with a view to their sale to stamp collectors rather than 
for the franking of letters. It is probably superfluous to specify that I am 
referring only to Government issues,- any reprintings of Postmasters' stamps 
or the semi-official carriers' stamps having been described in the chapters 
devoted to those subjects. 

The first issue of this nature took place early in 1875. The intention 
of the Government was known in advance, though possibly its full extent 
was not realized. Strange to say, the proposition to make reprints does not 
appear to have evoked any protest from philatelists or comment in the stamp 
journals. A careful search of the leading journals for 1874 and the early 
months of 1875 is not rewarded by finding any announcement of the im- 
pending reprinting or remarks on the subject. Even the appearance of the 
reprints in the market occasioned only slight comment, at least compared 
with the storm of protest that such a reprinting would evoke to day. 

In the Philatelical Journal for April 20th, 1875, we find an article en- 
titled " Official Jobbery and Sanctioned Forgery " which appears to be from 
the pen of the editor, Mr. E. L. Pemberton, and in which the action of the Post 
Office department is roundly condemned. Speaking of the official stamps — 
which the authorities had, hitherto, refused to sell to philatelists — he says: 

"Such specimens will be obliterated by the surcharge of the word l specimen'; and 
such specimens likewise will be ungummed ! Not very bad, is it ? Very neat to offer 5, 10 
and 20 dollar stamps of the most puissant department of State, obliterated and ungummed, 
at their facial values ! The G. P. O. evidently thinks that if philatelists are really timbro- 
maniacs, they may as well be humored as have to remain without copies of the things they 
will not sell in an unobliterated state ; i. e., for your 5, 10 or 20 dollars you may purchase 
a thing which has no facial value, and which the Department would never discount again at 
any percentage, supposing you ever got tired of the lovely features and god-like nose of Mr. 
Secretary Seward at four shillings and two pence to the dollar." 

After reading this, it is rather amusing to turn to the official record of 
the sales of the reprints and re-issues and note that there were only two pur- 
chasers of complete sets of the four higher values of the Department of State, 
one of whom was Mr. E. L. Pemberton. 

" A Protest by the National Philatelical Society, New York " was 
published in The Philatelist for July, 1875. 



No protest against 
the proposed re- 
printing. 



Journalistic 
criticism. 



344 REPRINTS, RE-ISSUES AND SPECIAL PRINTINGS. 

The American Journal of Philately was the only journal that took the 
trouble to describe the stamps. 

I have not been able to find any official statement of the reason for 
making the reprints and re-issues of 1875, but it is generally understood that 
Reasons for making the prime cause was the desire of the Post Office Department to display a full 
the reprints. set f our p 0S t a l issues, as part of its exhibit at the International Exposition 
of 1876. The collection of the Department being incomplete and the miss- 
ing stamps not being obtainable, except by purchase at a considerable advance 
over their face value, the simplest way to secure them appeared to be by 
making impressions from the old plates. In addition to this, the Department 
had received frequent applications from stamp collectors for specimens of its 
obsolete issues and this seemed a favorable opportunity to provide material 
to satisfy such requests. 

This action of the Post Office Department — as well as similar acts of 
other governments — gives rise to the thought that, in official eyes, one print- 
ing of a stamp is as good as another. The possibility that it may be less 
satisfactory to others does not appear to be considered, any more than the 
difficulty of making a successful reproduction, after a lapse of years. 

When the stamps were ready for distribution the following circular 

was issued : 

nm . , . , SPECIMEN POSTAGE STAMPS. 

Oflicial circular. 



POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, 
Office of Third Assistant Postmaster General, 
Division of Postage Stamps, Stamped Envelopes, and Postal Cards, 

Washington, D. C, March 27, 1875. 
The Department is prepared to furnish, upon application, at face value, specimens of 
adhesive postage stamps issued under its auspices, as follows : 

ORDINARY STAMPS FOR USE OF THE PUBLIC. 

1. Issue of 184-7. — Denominations, 5 and 16 cents. Value of set, 15 cents. 

2. Issue of 1851. — Denominotions, 1, 3, 5, 10, 12, 24, 30, and 90 cents; also two 
separate designs of i-cent carrier stamps. Value of set, $1.77. 

3. Issue of 1861. — Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30, and 90 cents. Value 
of set, §1.92. 

4. Issue of 1869. — Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30, and 90 cents. Value 
of set, $1.93. 

5. Issue of 1870, (current series). — Denominations, 1, 2 (brown), 2 (vermilion), 3, 5, 
6, 7, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30, and 90 cents. Value of set, $2.07. 

OFFICIAL STAMPS. 

1. Executive. — Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, and 10 cents. Value of set, 22 cents. 

2. Department of State. — Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30, and 90 
cents, and $2, $5, $10, $20. Value of set, $39. 

3. Treasury Department. — Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30 and 90 
cents. Value of set, $2. 

4. War Department. — Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30, and 90 cents. 
Value of set, $2. 

5. Navy Department. — Denominations, 1,2, 3, 6, 7, io, 12, 15, 24, 30, and 90 cents. 
Value of set, $2. 

6. Post Office Department. — Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30, and 90 
cents. Value of set, $1.93. 

7. Department of the Interior. — Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30, and 90 
cents. Value of set, $1.93. 

8. Department of fustice. — Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30, and 90 
cents. Value of set, $1.93. 

9. Department of Agriculture. — Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 12, 15, 24, and 30 
cents. Value of set, $1.03. 



REPRINTS, RE-ISSUES AND SPECIAL PRINTINGS. 



345 



NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. 

1. Issue of 1865.— Denominations, 5, 10, and 25 cents. Value of set, 40 cents. 

2. Issue of 187 If.— Denominations, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 
cents, $1.92, $3, $6, $9, $12, $24, $36, $48, and $60. Value of set, $204.66. 



The 1847 and 1851 stamps are obsolete and no longer receivable for postage. The 
subsequent issues of ordinary stamps are still valid. The newspaper and periodical stamps 
of 1865 are also uncurrent ; those of the issue of 1874 can be used only by publishers and 
news agents for matter mailed in bulk, under the Act of June 23, 1874. The official stamps 
cannot be used except for the official business of the particular Department for which 
provided. 

All the specimens furnished will be ungummed ; and the official stamps will have 
printed across the face the word "Specimen ", in small type. It will be useless to apply for 
gummed stamps, or for official stamps with the word " Specimen " omitted. 

The stamps will be sold by sets, and application must not be made for less than one 
full set of any issue, except the State Department official stamps and the newspaper and 
periodical stamps of the issue of 1874. The regular set of the former will embrace all the 
denominations from 1 cent to 90 cents, inclusive, valued at $2 ; and any or all 01 the other 
denominations ($2, $5, $10, and $20) will be added or sold separately from the regular set, 
as desired. 

The newspaper and periodical stamps of 1874 will be sold in quantities of not less 
than two dollars' worth in each case, of any denomination or denominations that may be 
ordered. 

Stamps of any one denomination of any issue will be sold in quantities of two dollars' 
worth and upward. 

Under no circumstances will stamps be sold for less than their face value. 

Payment must invariably be made in advance, in current funds of the United States. 
Mutilated currency,] internal revenue and postage stamps, bank checks and drafts, will not 
be accepted, but will in all cases be returned to the sender. 

To insure greater certainty of transmission, it is strongly urged that remittances be 
made either by money order or registered letter. Applicants will also include a sufficient 
amount for return postage and registry fee, it being desirable to send the stamps by registered 
letter. Losses in the mails or by any mode of transmission must be at the risk of the pur- 
chaser. 

^^Applications should be addressed to " The Third Assistant Postmaster General, 
Washington, D. C." 

No other stamps will be sold than are included in the above list ; and specimens of 
stamped envelopes, (either official or ordinary), or of envelope stamps, postal cards, or used 
stamps, will not be furnished in any case. 

A. D HAZEN, 

Third Ass't Postmaster Gen'l. 

It is probable that there was an issue of this circular bearing an earlier 
date than that here given. 

The circular was re-issued at various subsequent dates. In a copy, 
dated October 16th, 1882, we find the following changes in the section headed 
"Ordinary Stamps for Use of the Pup.lic." 

5. Issue of 1870, (current series) : — Denominations, 1, 2 (brown), 2 (vermilion), 3, 
5 (Taylor), 5 (Garfield), 0, 7, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30 and 90 cents. Value of set, $2.12. 

6. Issue of 1879, (postage due stamps). — Denominations, 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 30 and 50 
cents. Value of set, $1.01. 

In December, 1883, the 2 cents red-brown (Washington) and 4 cents 
green (Jackson), issued on October 1st of that year, were added to the so- 
called 1870 issue. It has not been learned whether or not a circular was 
ever issued in which these two stamps were mentioned. 

Before proceeding to describe the various stamps listed in the circular, 
it may be well to say a few words regarding their status and also to briefly 
define the words " reprint " and " re-issue." Reprints are printings of stamps 
which are not available for postage, either because the original stamps have 
been declared obsolete or because the reprints themselves are not allowed to 



Additions to the 
circular. 



Kepiiuts and re- 
issues diferentiated. 



346 



REPRINTS, ETC. — ISSUE OF 1847. 






do postal duty. Re-issues are printings of stamps which are available for 
postage, though the originals may have been replaced by a later issue. In 
185 r, at the breaking out of the Civil War, the stamps of the issues of 1847, 
1851 (including the stamps for delivery by carriers) and 1857 were declared 
obsolete and invalid for postage. At a later period the stamps for newspapers 
and periodicals, of the 1865 issue, suffered a similar fate. As a consequence, 
subsequent printings of any of these stamps must be called reprints. The 
stamps of the issues of 1861 and 1869 have never been deprived of their 
franking power and the same privilege extends to any printing of them, 
without regard to the date at which it was made. The stamps made and sold 
in 1875 are, therefore re-issues. The other series enumerated in the circular, 
i.e , the 1870 issue, the department stamps and the newspapers and period- 
icals stamps of 1874, were then in use and the specimens prepared for sale 
under the terms of the circular were neither reprints nor re-issues but special 
printings. 

These stamps were not in any way a part of the regular issues of the 
Post Office Department and were always kept carefully and entirely separate 

Special treatment from the regular stock. They were manufactured upon special orders and, 
when possible, by the makers of the original issues. They were not sold at 
post offices but from the office of the Third Assistant Postmaster General. 
A special set of accounts was kept for them, in which every purchase was 
carefully detailed and the name of the purchaser recorded. From these ac- 
counts we learn that the first of the stamps was sold on February 23rd, 1875, 

Dates of first and and the last on July 15th, 1884. The sale was discontinued and the stock 
last sales. on hand counted on July 16th, 1884, and on the 23rd of the same month the 

remainders were destroyed, by order of the Postmaster General. 

It was originally intended to make ic,ooo of each denomination of 
each series, except the four higher values of the State Department and the 
Quantities. newspapers and periodicals stamps. But this quantity was supplemented in 
a few instances, as dealers took advantage of the privilege of buying two 
dollars worth of any value and bought largely of the lower values of some 
series. 

The records do not give the dates at which the first consignments 
were received from the various contractors, but it is probable that the deliv- 
eries were made late in 1874 and early in 1875. We must content ourselves 
with saying 1875. 



Issue of 1847. 

The originals of this issue were made by Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & 
Edson of New York. The reprints were made by the Bureau of Engraving 
Dies and plates, and Printing at Washington. The dies and plates were not the property of 
the government, but of the contractors, and were destroyed after the termina- 
tion of the contract. Consequently they were not available when it was 
decided to reprint. To supply the deficiency new dies were engraved, in 
imitation of the originals, and new plates made from them. These plates 
were without imprint or plate number and each contained fifty stamps, 



REPRINTS, ETC. ISSUE OF I 847. 347 

arranged in five rows of ten. The original plates contained one hundred 
stamps each. 

The report of G. B. McCartee, Chief of the Bureau of Engraving and 
Printing, for the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1875, says : 

" Engraved two dies for the Post Office Department, Special Agent Commission, die 
No. 2,088 with one 5 cent and one 10 cent stamp on the same die. Engraved two plates, Official record. 
5 and 10 cents, postage, 1847. 

Printed 11,450 — 5 cent stamps. 
Printed 10,000—10 cent stamps." 

These stamps are, strictly speaking, not even reprints but official 
counterfeits. They differ from the originals in many points, the following 
being the most notable. 

The reprints are slightly shorter and wider than the originals. The 
initials " r. w. h. & e." at the bottom of each stamp are quite indistinct in the 
reprints and it is usually difficult to tell what some of the letters are intended Differences between 
to be. They may be further distinguished by the following points : Five "orfetaals. 
cents : In the originals the background of the medallion is formed of vertical 
and horizontal lines. In the reprints the vertical lines are either very in- 
distinct or entirely wanting. In the originals the left side of the white shirt 
frill touches the frame of the oval on a level with the top of the " f " of 
" five ", while in the reprints it touches the oval opposite the top of the 
figure " 5 ". Ten cents : In the reprints the line of the mouth is two straight 
and there is a sleepy look about the eyes. The white collar is so heavily 
shaded as to be barely distinguishable from the collar of the coat. In the 
hair, near the left cheek, there is a lock which appears like a very small white 
circle with a black dot in the centre ; this is not found on the originals. On 
the originals there are four horizontal lines between the " ce " of "cents" 
and the lower line of the central oval. On the reprints there are five lines in 
the same space, the upper line touching the oval and the lower line the tops 
of the letters "ce ". 

The stamps of the 1847 issue are usually on a thin crisp bluish wove 
paper of fine quality. They exist also on laid paper and on thin yellowish- 
white wove paper. The reprints are on a thicker wove paper, of coarser Paper. 
quality and deeper color (gray or gray-blue) than that of the originals. The 
five cents is also known on horizontally laid paper. The reprints are usually 
without gum but a few copies have been seen which have a white gum, very 
much crackled ; this is apparently simple gum arabic. 

The reprints are found in the following colors : 

Imperforate. Referenco List. 

Gray-blue Wove Paper. 
5 cents bistre-brown, yellow-brown, red-brown, brown, 

dark brown, lilac-brown 
10 cents black, gray-black 

Deep Blue Wove Paper. 
5 cents yellow-brown 

Gray-blue Laid Paper. 
5 cents bistre-brown 



34« 



REPRINTS, ETC. — ISSUE OF 1857. 



Quantities sold. 



From the records we are enabled to compile the following table: 



1875, Received 

July 16, 1884, On hand 

Sold 



5 cents. 

11,45° 
6,671 

4,779 



io cents. 

10,000 

6,117 

3,883 



I'latcs. 



Typos. 



Paper and 
perforation. 



Reference List. 



Issue of 1857. 

The only difference between the issues of 1851 and 1857 is that the 
stamps of the former are imperforate and those of the latter are perforated. 
As the reprints of this series were all perforated they can only be considered 
as reprints of the 1857 issue. 

The original stamps of this issue were made by Toppan, Carpenter, 
Casilear & Co. of Philadelphia. The reprints were the work of the Con- 
tinental Bank Note Co. of New York. In 1874, probably about August, 
there were sent to the latter Company the original plates of the 5, 24, 30 and 
90 cent stamps and the transfer rolls of the 1, 3, 10 and 12 cents. By means 
of the latter, new plates were made for those four values. These plates had 
neither imprint nor plate number and contained one hundred stamps each. 
The original plates contained two hundred stamps each. On the new plates 
the stamps were set far apart, so that the sheets might be perforated by the 
machines then in use without damage to the designs, as would have happen- 
ed had the original plates of these values been used. 

The 1 cent stamps are all of type I, with full ornamental scrolls at the 
bottom. The 3 cent stamps are also of type I, having the outer lines at top 
and bottom. The 5 cent stamps are from plate No. 2 and, consequently, 
show the same varieties as the original stamps from that plate, i.e., alternate 
rows of types II and III. The 10 cent stamps are all of type I, showing full 
side ornaments and complete lines outside the top and bottom labels. Of 
each of the other values there was never more than one type, therefore, in 
the matter of design, the originals and reprints agree. The plates of the 
24, 30 and go cents each bore the number " 1." 

The paper is very white, crisp and hard; the stamps are without gum; 
the perforation gauges 12 instead of 15, which, of course, affords a very 
simple test by which to distinguish the reprints. 
The colors are as follows: 

1 cent (type I) bright blue 
3 cents (type I) scarlet 
5 cents (type II and III) orange-brown 
10 cents (type I) blue-green 
12 cents greenish black 
24 cents dull violet 
30 cents yellow-orange 
90 cents indigo 
The color of the three cents does not at all resemble any of the shades 



REPRINTS, ETC. — ISSUE OF l86l. 



349 



of the original and no attempt was made to imitate the scarcer shades of the 
five cents. 

The records supply the following statistics : 



1875, Received 

July 16, 1884, On hand 


1 cent. 

10,000 

6,154 


3 cents. 

10,000 

9.521 


5 cents 

10,000 

9,122 


10 cents. 

10,000 

9,484 


Quantities sold- 


Sold 

1875, Received 

July 16, 1884, On hand 


3,846 

12 cents. 

10,000 

9.5" 


479 

24 cents. 

10,000 

9.521 


878 

30 cents. 

10,000 

9,520 


516 

90 cents. 

10,000 

9,546 




Sold 


489 


479 


480 


454 





On August 26th, 1874, the Post Office Department sent an order to 
the National Bank Note Co. directing the printing of 10,000 stamps of each 
denomination of the issues of 1861 and 1869. This order was filled in due 
time and the stamps forwarded to Washington. 



Issue of 1861. 



The re-issued stamps are of the types known as the "September issue." 
The rarer " August issue " was either unknown or unheeded by the postal 
officials. For some reason new plates were made for the 1, 2, 5, 10 and 12 
cents. These plates were numbered respectively 56, 57, 58, 59 and 60. 
They contained one hundred stamps each while the original plates had two 
hundred stamps each. The 3 cent stamps were probably printed from plates 
54 or 55. The 15, 24, 30 and 90 cents were from the only plates made for 
those values, which were numbered 41, 6, 7 and 18, respectively. 

The paper is very white and hard and is almost identical with that 
used by the Continental Bank Note Co. for the same purpose. 

The stamps are perforated 12 and have a yellowish-white gum, very 
much crackled. They are frequently found without gum but there are usually 
indications of its presence at some former time. The very positive assertion 
of the official circular that "all specimens furnished will be ungummed" is 
set at naught by the re-issues of this and the 1 869 issue. 

The stamps were very carefully printed and have a highly finished 
appearance, suggestive of proofs. The colors are : 

1 cent ultramarine 

2 cents deep black 

3 cents brown-red 
5 cents pale brown 

10 cents blue-green 
1 2 cents deep black 



Plates. 



Paper. 



Perforation and 
gum. 



Reference List. 



35° 



REPRINTS, ETC. — ISSUE OF 1869. 



Quantities sold. 



15 cents deep black 
24 cents dark brown-violet 
30 cents brown-orange 
90 cents dark blue 

No attempt was made to reproduce the pink and scarlet three cents or 
the yellow and red-brown five cents. The grill was not applied to the re- 
issues of the 1 86 1, 1869 or 1870 series. Re-issued stamps with forged grills 
are mentioned by Mr. Tiffany but, though I have made extensive search 
for them, I have never succeeded in finding any copies. The stamps are 
sufficiently scarce to make it improbable that this sort of fraud would often 
be attempted. 

The following quantities were prepared, sold or destroyed : 











1 cent. 


2 cents. 


3 cents. 


5 cents. 


10 cents. 


1875. 


Received 




10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


10, coo 


10,000 


July 


16, 


1884, On hand 
Sold 


6,805 


9,021 


9,535 
465 


9,328 
672 


9,549 




3, '95 


979 


45 1 










12 cents. 


1 5 cents. 


24 cents. 


30 cents. 


90 cents. 


1875, 


Received 




1 0,000 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


July 


16, 


1884, On hi 
Sold 


and 


9,611 


9,603 


9> 6 54 


9,654 


9,683 




389 


397 


346 


346 


3*7 



Issue of 1869. 



The re-impressions of this issue, being made at the same time and by 
the same firm as those of the 1861 issue, naturally show the same character- 
Characteristics, istics of paper, gum, perforation, bright colors and careful printing. The 
re-issues are without the grill. Most of the original stamps were grilled and 
the very rare ungrilled varieties may be easily distinguished by their smooth 
brown gum and duller colors. 

For the one cent stamps a new plate, numbered 33, was made. This 
plate had only one hundred and fifty stamps. All the original plates of this 
Plates. denomination had three hundred stamps each. A new plate was also made 

for the frame of the fifteen cents. This is of a type which was not used for 
the originals. It is called type III. In types I and II a band of ruled lines, 
about 1 mm. wide, extends around the inner edge of the space for the picture. 
In type III this band is omitted, with the exception of a solitary line which 
crosses the top of the tablet below the letters " sta " of " postage ". This 
new plate bore the number 32. 

The following plates are believed to have been used for printing the 
re-issues, though a few of them lack confirmation : 

Plate uumbers. I cent No. 33. 

2 cents No. 4. 

3 cents No. 30. 



REPRINTS, ETC. — ISSUE OF 1870. 



351 



No. 13. 
No. 15. 
No. 17. 
Frame No. 32. Vignette No. 23. 

20. 24. 

21. 21. 

22. 22. 



6 cents 
10 cents 
12 cents 
15 cents 
24 cents 
30 cents 
90 cents 

The colors do not differ greatly from those of the originals but appear 
brighter and fresher. They are : 

1 cent dark brown- orange Reference List. 

2 cents brown 

3 cents ultramarine 
6 cents ultramarine 

10 cents pale orange 

12 cents dark blue-green 

15 cents dark blue and dark brown 

24 cents dark violet and blue-green 

30 cents rose-carmine and dark ultramarine 

90 cents deep black and deep carmine 

The one cent stamp is more frequently found on the soft porous paper 
used by the American Bank Note Co. than on the stiff hard paper of the One cent stamp on 
National Bank Note Co. This would indicate a reprinting by the former soft P a i )er - 
company. But the records are silent concerning it and we must content 
ourselves with the knowledge that the stamp exists. 

The statistics of this re-issue are as follows: 



1875, Received 

July 1 6, 1884, On hand 


1 cent. 

10,000 

1,748 

8,252 

12 cents. 

10,000 

8,416 


2 cents, 

10,000 

5, 2 45 


3 cents. 

10,000 

8,594 


6 cents. 
10,000 

7,774 


10 cents. 

10,000 

8,053 


Quantities sold. 


Sold 

1875, Received 

July 16, 1884, On hand 


4,755 
15 cents. 
10,000 
8,019 


1,406 

24 cents. 

10,000 

7,909 


2,226 

30 cents. 

10,000 

8,465 


r,947 

90 cents' 

10,000 

8,644 




Sold 


1,584 


1,981 


2,091 


1,356 





Issue of 1870. 

To speak correctly, this was not a re-issue of the stamps of the 1870 
series but a special printing of the 1873 and 1875 issues, which were then 
current. The work was not done by the National Bank Note Co., makers Dates of delivery. 
of the 1870 issue, but by the Continental Bank Note Co. and from the plates 
they were then using. The 1873 set , from one to ninety cents, was pro- 
bably delivered in Washington not far from May 1st, 1875. The first sale of 
the stamps was made on May 5th, 1875. The two cents vermilion and five 
cents (Taylor) were added to the set early in 1876. 



35 2 



REPRINTS, ETC. ISSUE OF 1870. 



It is not easy to understand why a special printing should be made of 
stamps that were in use at the time. As it was announced that the stamps 
Possible reasons for would be without gum — and, therefore, unfinished — collectors could scarcely 
this printing. ^ e expected to be eager purchasers, when perfect specimens might be obtain- 
ed at post offices. Perhaps they were designed to meet orders from abroad. 
But, in all probability, the intention was to make complete the series of 
postal issues placed on sale. As has been said in an earlier paragraph, the 
transactions in these stamps were kept entirely apart from the regular busi- 
ness of the Department and this may account for this series being printed 
upon a special order instead of being taken from the regular stock. 

It is extremely difficult to distinguish the stamps of this printing from 
those of the regular issue. It requires a keen eye for color and great fami- 
Charaeteristics. liarity with the stamps of the period. The stamps of the special printing have 
the freshness and appearance of careful workmanship which have been noticed 
in companion sets. Many of them, however, were printed from worn plates. 
They are on the peculiarly white, crisp paper which was used for the reprints 
and reissues. Occasionally one has the crackled white gum, but most of them 
have none A notable feature of this set is that the perforations are seldom 
perfect. The stamps were not separated in the usual way, by tearing them 
apart, but were cut apart with scissors and very carelessly. As a result the 
perforations were usually much mutilated and the design is frequently dam- 
aged. 

The colors, as nearly as they can be described, are : 

1 cent bright ultramarine 

2 cents dark brown 

2 cents carmine-vermilion 

3 cents blue-green 

5 cents bright blue 

6 cents dull rose 

7 cents scarlet-vermilion 
10 cents brown 
12 cents dull black-violet 
15 cents bright orange 
24 cents dull purple 
30 cents greenish black 
90 cents violet-carmine 

The highest three values were printed from the plates of the National 
Bank Note Co., Nos. 2f, 22 and 23. The 7 and 15 cent stamps were printed 
from the only plates made for those values, viz., Nos. 22 and 31. The 2 
cents vermilion were from plates 241 and 242 and the 5 cents (Taylor) was 
from plate 248. It has not been possible to learn what plates were used for 
the other values. 

The records of the Third Assistant Postmaster General shows that, on 
July 1 6th, 1880, there were received from the Stamp Agent 500 copies of 
each value of this series. These are, of course, the work of the American 
Bank Note Co. We have yet to learn the reason for thus adding to a stock 
which was already too abundant. 



Reference List. 



Plates. 



Printing by the 

American Bank 

Note Co. 



REPRINTS, ETC. — ISSUE OF 1870. 



353 



A careful examination of a set of these stamps shows them to be a 
special printing also. So far as we are aware, nothing was ever done to bring 
this set to the attention of the public. They were unknown to philatelists 
until discovered and reported by the author (see American Journal of Philately 
for May, 1896). 

The paper and the perforation are the same as were then in regular 
use. The stamps were not gummed. The 2 cents (brown), 7, 12 and 24 
cents were obsolete and are, therefore, re-issues. These four values may be 
readily distinguished by the soft porous paper. All the originals were on the 
hard paper used by the National and Continental companies. It is very 
difficult to tell the other values of this set from the stamps of the regular 
issue. The colors are slightly deeper and richer than usual but the differences 
are not easily expressed. Very careful comparison with a set known to have 
been purchased at the period is the only certain way to identify specimens. 
The stamps are of extreme rarity. Only five complete sets and a few odd 
copies are known to exist. The colors are : 

1 cent dark ultramarine 

2 cents black-brown 

2 cents scarlet-vermilion 

3 cents blue-green 

5 cents deep blue 

6 cents dull rose 

7 cents scarlet-vermilion 
10 cents deep brown 

12 cents black-violet 
15 cents deep orange 
24 cents dull purple 
30 cents greenish black 
90 cents dull carmine 

It has not been possible to learn the numbers of the plates used for 
this printing. The 7, 15, 24, 30 and 90 cents must, of course, be from the 
only plates that were made for those values. 

The two special printings of the 1873 series are treated in the re- 
cords as being one issue and we are, therefore, unable to say how many of 
each were sold. The total of the two is small and it is probable that the 
sale of the later printing was extremely limited. The figures are as fol- 
lows : 



1875, Received 

July 16, 1880, Received 

Total 
July 16. 1884, On hand 

Sold 



1 cent. 


2 cents 


2 cents 


3 cents. 


5 cents 




(brown). 


(vermilion). 




(Taylor). 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


500 


500 


500 


500 


500 


10,500 


10,500 


10,500 


10,500 


10,500 


10,1 12 


10,084 


9-583 


10,233 


10,183 



Characteristics. 



Reference List. 



Plates. 



Quantities sold. 



388 



416 



917 



267 



3'7 



354 



REPRINTS, ETC. — ISSUE OF I 882. — ISSUE OF I 883. 





6 cents. 


7 cents. 


10 cents. 


12 cents. 


15 cents. 


1875, Received 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


July 16, 1880, Received 


500 


500 


500 


500 


500 



Total 
July 16, 1884, On hand 

Sold 



1875, Received 

July 16, 1880, Received 

Total 
July 16, 1884, On hand 

Sold 



10,500 



10,500 
10,027 



10,500 
10,320 



10,500 10,500 
10,218 10,331 



»S 


473 


180 


24 cents. 




30 cents. 


10,000 




10,000 


500 




500 



10,500 

10,214 



10,500 

10,321 



286 



179 



282 

90 cents. 

10,000 

500 

10,500 
10,330 

170 



169 



Issue of 1882. 



From the records we learn that there were on hand, at the time of the 
incomplete records, final counting of the stock before its destruction, 7,537 copies of the 5 cent 
stamp with the portrait of James A. Garfield, but we do not find any memor- 
andum of the quantity originally received. We are probably correct in 
Quantity sold, placing the number at the customary 10,000. This would give a total of 
2,463 sold to the public. 

The stamp was issued on April 10th, 1882, and the special printing 
Characteristics, was doubtless made soon after that date. The soft porous paper, on which 
the ordinary stamps of the period were printed, was also used for the special 
printing. The color is a light brownish gray and the impression is very clear 
and sharp, while that of the regular stamps is usually soft and slightly blur- 
Plates. red. The special stamps were not gummed. Plates 399 and 400 were pro- 

bably used for this printing. 



Issue of 1883. 



Date of delivery. 



Characteristics. 



Still another printing was received from the Stamp Agency, on Decem- 
ber 5th, 1883. This consisted of 2,000 copies each of the 2 cents red-brown 
(Washington), and 4 cents blue-green (Jackson), which were originally issued 
October 1st, 1883. 

It is scarcely possible to describe the shades so accurately that the 
stamps may be distinguished, without fail, from originals. The two cents is 
printed in a light red-brown, while the majority of the originals are in shades 
of orange-brown and dark red-brown bordering on chocolate. The four 
cents is in a dark blue-green, not unlike the shade known as Prussian green. 
The impressions are fire and clear, especially that of the two cents, on which 
the shadow below the shield is sharp and distinct. 

The four cent stamp is without gum but the two cents is an exception 
among special piintings in that it is gummed. We do not know the numbers 



REPRINTS, ETC. — CARRIERS STAMPS. 



355 



of the plates which were used for the two cent stamps. For the four cents, 
plates 456 or 457 must have been used. 

The records show an extremely limited number of these two stamps 
to have been sold : 



Dec. 5, 1883, Received 
July 16, 1884, On hand 

Sold 



2 cents. 


4 cents. 


2,000 


2,000 


1.945 


i>974 



55 



26 



(juantities sold. 



Carriers' Stamps 



At the same time that the plates and rolls of the 1851-57 issue were 
delivered to the Continental Bank Note Co. the plates of the Franklin and 
" Eagle " carriers' stamps were also placed in their charge, with instructions 
to make reprintings from them. This was done on two occasions, April 
22nd, 1875 and December 17th, 1875, on both of which dates 10,000 copies 
of each stamp were printed. 

The first printing of the Franklin stamps was made on remainders of 
the original rose-colored paper. The second printing was on a slightly thicker 
and softer paper of a paler tint. It is very difficult to distinguish the reprints 
on the first paper from the originals. The latter are found in bright blue, 
dull blue and dark dull blue. The reprints shade from a marine blue to 
indigo. But the best test is to be found in the printing. The impression of 
the originals is clear and fine while the reprints are too heavily inked and 
often blurred. In the original stamps the background of the medallion shows 
a hatching of diagonal lines. Traces of these lines can occasionally be seen 
in the reprints but, as a rule, the background appears to be solid. Around 
the medallion extends a tessellated band with rosettes at each corner. This 
band is composed of alternate light and dark diamonds, crossed by groups of 
colorless lines. On the original stamps these lines are clear and sharp, while 
on the reprints they are indistinct and often filled with color, especially 
where they cross the dark diamonds. 

The reprints of the Franklin stamp are imperforate and without gum. 

The reprints of the " Eagle " carriers' stamps are on the hard white 
paper which was used for other reprints and special printings. They are also 
found on a coarsely woven paper which some have thought might be the 
paper of the American Bank Note Co., but it lacks the thickness and softness 
which characterize that paper. It is probable that this is the paper which 
was used for the second printing. The paper of the original stamps has 
usually a yellowish tinge and the gum is smooth, varying in color from brown 
to yellow-white. The reprints are not gummed. 

The reprints of the "Eagle" stamp were at first perforated 12 but 
they were afterwards issued imperforate. There is nothing in the records to 
show the number prepared and distributed of each variety. 

The originals are found in greenish blue, dark dull blue and indigo. 
The reprints are in bright deep blue and dark blue. 



Paper. 



Color. 



Impression. 



Paper. 



Perforation. 



Color, 



356 



REPRINTS, ETC. — OFFICIAL STAMPS. 



As was said on page 249, the majority of the original stamps appear 
to have been printed from the plate before it was numbered. I have never 
Hate number. seen or heard of an original sheet which bore a number. I have, however, 
recently obtained a used stamp which has attached a portion of the marginal 
imprint and the number " 1." x\ll the sheets of the reprints have this number 
below the imprint of the upper pane. 

The records supply the following figures for the two carriers' stamps: 

Quantities sold. Franklin. Eagle. 

1875, Received 10,000 10,000 

Jan 3, 1876, Received 10,000 10,000 



Total 
July 16, 1884, On hand 

Sold 



20,000 
2,890 

17,110 



20,000 
10,320 

9,680 



Official Stamps. 



Plates. 



Cole rs. 



Error in the 
surcharge. 



The special printings of the stamps for the various Departments were 
made by the Continental Bank Note Co. from the plates then in use. With 
the exception of the two, three and six cents of the Post Office Department, 
there was only one plate for each denomination of each series. The spec- 
ial printings of these three stamps were made from plates 37, 36 and 47, re- 
spectively. An enumeration of the numbers of the other plates would be 
superfluous. 

The paper and perforation are the same as were employed for similar 
printings by the Continental Bank Note Co. Many of the stamps show the 
mutilation by scissors that was noticed in the special printing of the regular 
issue of 1873. 

The colors do not differ materially from those of the stamps issued 
to the several departments. They usually appear to be a trifle paler and 
brighter but this may be due to the absence of gum and the whiteness of the 
paper. The two, three, six and twelve cents of the War Department have a 
brownish tint, which is not found in the other values of this set. 

The stamps are ungummed and each is surcharged " specimen " in 
small block letters. The surcharge is in carmine on the stamps of the Agri- 
culture, Navy, Post Office and State Departments. On the stamps of the 
other Departments it is in blue. On a few of the stamps the word is spelled 
'' sepcimen " in error. This variety occurs on the first stamp of the third 
horizontal row. It does not, so far as we know, exist on all the denomina- 
tions that were surcharged. Furthermore it is known on certain stamps and 
yet is not found in entire sheets of the same stamps, thus proving that it did 
not exist at all times in the surcharging form. Either there was a mistake in 
setting up the form, which was afterwards corrected, or, while it was in 
use, some of the letters were dropped and replaced in wrong order. The 
error has been found on the following stamps : 



REPRINTS, ETC. OFFICIAL STAMPS. 



357 



Department of Agriculture 2, 15c 

Department of the Interior 2c 

Department of Justice 1, 2c 

Navy Department 2, 7, 12c 

Post Office Department 1, 2c 

Department of State 1, 2, 3, 7, 24c 

War Department 1, 2, 3, 7, 24, 30, 90c 
The records say: Aug 21, i88r. Received from Agency, New York, 
5,000 — 1 cent State Department." These stamps are, of course, on the Printings by the 
paper of the American Bank Note Co. We also find copies of the 1 cent 
Executive, 1 cent Navy and 7 cents State Department on this paper, though 
they are not mentioned in the records. We await further information about 
them. 

The following tables are arranged from the records: 

Department of Agriculture. 



American Bank 
Note Co. 





1 cent. 


2 cents. 


3 cents. 


6 cents. 


10 cents. 


Quantities sold, 


1875, Received 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 




Jan. 3, 1876, Received 


10,000 












Total 


2C,000 


ir,oco 


10,000 


TC,ODO 


ic,ooo 




July 16, 1884, On hand 


4,766 
I5, 2 34 


5,808 


9,611 


9,627 


9,610 




Sold 


4,192 


389 


373 


390 






12 cents. 


15 cents. 


24 cents. 


30 cents. 






1875, Received 


J 0,000 


10, coo 


10,000 


10,000 






July 16, 1884, On hand 


9,621 


9,630 


9,648 


9,646 







Sold 



379 



37° 



352 



354 



The Executive. 





1 cent. 


2 cents. 


3 cents. 


6 cents. 


10 cents. 


1875, Received 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


Jan. 3, 1876, Received 


10,000 











Total 
July 16, 1884, On hand 

Sold 



20,000 
5,348 

14652 



10,000 
2,57° 

7,43° 



10,000 
6,265 

3-735 



10,000 
6,5i5 

3,485 



10,000 
6,539 

3,46i 



Department of the Interior. 

1875, Received 

July 16, 1884, On hand 

Sold 



1875, Received 

July 16, 1884, On hand 

Sold 



1 cent. 


2 cents. 


3 cents. 


6 cents. 


10 cents. 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


2,806 


8,737 


9,912 


9,9 X 7 


9,918 


7,194 


1,263 


88 


83 


82 


12 cents. 


15 cents. 


24 cents. 


30 cents. 


90 cents. 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


10, coo 


10,000 


9,9 2 5 


9,922 


9,923 


9,9 2 5 


9,9 2 3 



75 



78 



77 



75 



77 



358 



REPRINTS, ETC. OFFICIAL STAMPS. 



Department of Justice. 





1 cent. 


2 cents. 


3 cents. 


6 cents. 


10 cents. 


1875, Received 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


Jan. 3, 1876, Received 


10,000 






10,000 




Total 


20,000 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


July 16, 1884, On hand 


27 1 


6,605 


9,822 


9,837 


9,837 


Sold 


19,729 


3,395 


178 


163 


163 




12 cents. 


15 cents. 


24 cents. 


30 cents. 


90 cents. 


1875, Received 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


[ 0,000 


10,000 


July 16, 1884, On hand 


9,846 


9, 8 43 


9,850 


9,850 


9,848 



Sold 



154 



i57 



'5° 



150 



152 



Navy Department. 







1 cent. 


2 cents. 


3 cents. 


6 cents. 


7 cents > 


1875, 


Received 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


July 


16, 1884, On hand 
Sold 


818 


8,252 


9,874 


9,884 


9,499 




9,182 


1,748 


126 


116 


5°' 






10 cents. 


12 cents. 1 


5 cents. 24 cents. 30 cents. 


90 cents. 


1875, 


Received 


10,000 


IO,OOJ 


10,000 10, 


,ooo ] 0,000 


10,000 


July 


16, 1884, On hand 


9,888 


9,893 


9,893 9: 


,894 9,896 


9,898 



Sold 112 107 107 

Post Office Department. 



106 



104 









1 cent. 


2 cents. 


3 cents. 


6 cents. 


10 cents. 


1875, Received 






10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


July 16, 1884, On 


hi 


md 


3,985 


9,410 


9,909 


9,9t3 


9.823 


Sold 






6,015 


59° 


91 


87 


177 








12 cents. 


15 cents. 


24 cents. 


30 cents. 


90 cents. 


1875, Received 






10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


July 16, 1884, On 


h 


and 


9,9°7 


9,918 


9,916 


9,9*9 


9,918 



Sold 



93 



82 



84 



82 



Department of State. 





1 cent. 


2 cents. 


3 cents. 


6 cents. 


7 cents. 


1875, Received 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


Jan. 3, 1876, Received 


10,000 










Aug. 12, 188 1 " 


5,000 


ic,coo 




10,000 




Total 


25,000 


i 0,000 


10,000 


July 16, 1884, On hand 


3,328 


4,855 


9,207 


9,533 


9,209 



Sold 



21,672 



5, '45 



793 



467 



791 



REPRINTS, ETC. — NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. 



359 









10 cents. 


1875. 


Received 




10,000 


July 


16, 1884, On har 

Sold 


id 


9> 6 54 




346 








90 cents. 


1875, 


Received 




10,000 


July 


16, 1884, On hand 


9.755 



12 cents. 15 cents. 

10,000 10,000 

9,720 9,743 



24 cents. 30 cents. 

10,000 10,000 

9.747 9-75 1 



280 257 253 249 

2 dollars. 5 dollars. 10 dollars. 20 dollars. 

1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 

968 988 992 993 



Sold 245 32 

Treasury Department. 



12 



8 







1 cent. 


2 cents. 


3 cents. 


6 cents. 


7 cents. 


1875, 


Received 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 


July 


16, 1884, On hand 


7,8i5 


9,691 


9,916 


9.9*5 


9,802 




Sold 


2,185 


3°9 


84 


85 


198 






10 cents. 


12 cents. 1 


5 cents. 24 cents. 30 cents. 


90 cents. 


1875, 


Received 


10,000 


10,000 


10,000 IO, 


000 10,000 


10,000 


July 


16, 1884, On hand 


9,918 


9,9 2 5 


9,925 9,901 9,926 


9,928 



Sold 



1875, Received 

July 16, 1884, On hand 

Sold 

1875, Received 

July 16, 1884, On hand 

Sold 



82 75 75 

War Department. 



99 



74 



72 



1 cent. 
10,000 

5,390 

4,6 fo 

10 cents. 

10,000 

9,881 

119 



2 cents. 

10,000 

8,382 



3 cents. 

10,000 

9,882 



1,618 

cents. 15 cents. 



118 



6 cents. 

10,000 

9,889 

ill 




24 cents. 30 cents. 90 cents. 
10,000 10,000 10,000 

9,895 



10,000 10,000 



[O,O0O iu,ooo 10,000 10,000 

9,895 9,894 9,896 9,894 



105 



105 



106 



104 



106 



Newspaper and Periodical Stamps. 
Issue of 1865. 

The original stamps of this issue were made by the National Bank 
Note Co., who doubtless printed the reprints also. We do not learn of any 
special order covering the reprinting of this series but it is possible that the 
order to make re-impressions of the stamps of the issues of 1861 and 1869 was 
intended to cover any intermediate issues. 

The reprints are from the original plates, numbered 38, 39 and 40. 

The paper is the same as was used for the re-issues of the 1861 and 
1869 series. Some of the original stamps were printed on pelure paper but 
the majority of them were on a crisp white paper, very like that used for the 
reprints. The perforation is identical and neither originals nor reprints were 



Plates. 



Paper. 



3 6 ° 



REPRINTS, ETC. — NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. 



Colors. gummed. There remains, therefore, only color by which to distinguish the 

stamps. The shades of the reprints are darker and heavier than those of 
the originals. They also have the appearance of having been printed with 
thicker inks. The colors are : 

5 cents deep dull blue, dark blue, purplish blue 
10 cents deep green, dark blue-green 
25 cents dark carmine-red 

The five cents with colored border was not reprinted. 

We do not find in the records any mention of reprintings of these 
stamps by the American Bank Note Co., but we occasionally see copies of 
printing by the the five cents on the soft porous paper peculiar to the issues of that Company. 
These are undoubtedly reprints, made at some date subsequent to February, 
1879, but we have no information beyond the bare fact of their existence. 
The shades of these stamps are dull blue, deep dull blue and purplish blue. 
There was some delay in delivering the reprints of this issue. To meet 
orders for them, 750 copies of each value were obtained from remainders of 
the original issue, which were in the possession of the Post Office Department. 
The early orders were, therefore, filled with original stamps. We have no 
means of knowing whether or not all these originals were distributed. 

The first sale of these stamps was made on April 1st, 1875. 

The statistics are : 

5 cents. io cents. 25 cents. 

1875, Received (originals) 750 750 750 

July 21, 1875, Received (reprints) 10,000 10,000 10,000 



American ltiink 
Note Co. 



Remainders of the 
original issue used 



Quantities sold. 



Total 



July 16, 1884, On hand 



Sold 



'0,75° 
4,355 

6 ,395 



i°,75° 
2,235 

8,5i5 



«°,75° 
3,3 l6 

7,434 



Continental liank 
Note Co, 



Characteristics. 



About the time the reprints and re-issues were being prepared, the 
Continental Bank Note Co. made new plates for the three values of this series. 
Plates made by the Why these plates were made and put to press, while the original plates were in 
existence and in good order, has never been explained. These new plates 
were without imprint or plate number and contained ten stamps each, arranged 
in two horizontal rows of five. The stamps printed from these plates are 
known in both imperforate and perforated condition. All three values are 
without the colored border. By this change we may readily distinguish the 
two higher values. The five cents, when perforated, may be known by the 
outer colored line, which has a uniform width of about ^mm., while on the 
originals it is of irregular thickness, in places not more than a hair's breadth. 
These stamps are printed on a paper which is thin, hard and very white, such 
as was used for the reprints and re-issues. The impression is entirely fiat, 
lacking the embossing usually seen in the numerals and larger letters of both 
the originals and reprints. The colors do not agree with those of any other 
printing. The inks were evidently thin and did not cover the paper with the 
customary strong body of color. The colors are : 



Colors. 



REPRINTS, ETC. — NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. 



3 6r 



5 cents soft dull blue 
10 cents dark gray-green 
25 cents rose-red 
These stamps were, doubtless, intended to form part of the 1875 series 
of reprints and re-issues, but it is not certain that any of them were ever sold 
as such. Only a very limited number were acquired by collectors before the 
destruction of the remainders of obsolete issues. 

Issue of 1875. 

The special printing of this issue was made by the Continental Bank 
Note Co. The only values for which there was more than one plate were the 
two and three cents. There can be very little doubt that the first plates made, 
which were numbered respectively 200 and 206, were used for the first special 
printing. It is reasonable to assume that the two cent stamps which were 
received in 1883 and 1884 were printed from plate 218B. 

The paper is the crisp white paper that was employed for this work, 
but in these stamps it seems to be more transparent than usual and has a 
waxen tone. The stamps are perforated 12 and ungummed. 

The impressions were very carefully made. The values two to ten cents, 
inclusive, are printed in a clear gray-black and the twelve to ninety-six cents, 
inclusive, in a soft pale rose. The other values I have not seen, nor are they 
known to the leading specialists in United States stamps, but there is no 
reason to expect the colors to differ from those of the same values of the 
regular issue. 

On referring to the table compiled from the records, it will be seen 
that there were deliveries of certain of the lower values in 1883 and 1884. 
As the last of these deliveries was made about six weeks before the stamps 
were withdrawn from sale, and as the quantity of the remainders exceeds the 
number in this delivery, it is quite possible that none of the stamps of that 
printing were sold. I have a copy of the two cents which is known to have 
been purchased from the office of the Third Assistant Postmaster-General. 
It probably belongs to the lot delivered in 1883. The stamp is printed in a 
rich deep black, on very white, soft paper, like thin blotting paper. 

The official figures for this series are : 

2 cents. 3 cents. 4 cents. r 6 cents 8 cents' 

1875, Received 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 

Jan. 3, 1876, Received 10,000 10,000 ...... 

Apl. 30, 1883 " 5,000 

May 31, 1884 e,ooo ...... 5 000 

Total 25,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 5,0 o 

June 16, 1884, On hand 5,486 8048 5,^!9 2,652 3,070 

Sold i9,5'4 6952 4451 2.348 1,930 

9 cents. 10 cents. 12 cents. 24 cents. 56 cents. 

1875, Received 5,000 '5,000 5,000 5,000 5,oco 

July 16, 1884, On hand 3, 2 °5 7,5 01 3' 687 4,589 4,670 

Sold 1,795 T >499 1, 3*3 4" 33° 



Plates. 



Paper. 



Quantities (>ol<l. 



362 REPRINTS, ETC. NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. 

48 cents. 60 cents. 72 cents. 84 cents. 96 cents. 

1875, Received 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,oco 

July 16, 1884, On hand 4732 4,778 4,826 4,836 4859 

Sold 268 222 174 164 141 

192 cents. 3 dollars. 6 dollars. 9 dollars. 12 dollars. 

1875, Received 500 500 500 500 500 

July 16, 1884, On hand 459 480 486 496 495 

Sold 41 20 14 4 5 

24 dollars. 36 dollars. 48 dollars. 60 dollars. 

1875, Received 100 100 100 100 

July 16, 1884, On hand 98 98 99 99 

Sold 2 2 1 1 



Issue of 1895. 

In February, 1899, the series of newspaper and periodical stamps which 
had became obsolete on the first of the preceding July, were placed on sale to 
the public at the nominal price of five dollars per set. In many of these sets 
the five higher values were reprints. There was at least a poor excuse for 
the reprints of 1875, but for those of 1899 there is, in the opinion of good 
philatelists, absolutely none. For this reprinting we must, to a large extent, 
blame one or two short-sighted dealers who, valuing a present small profit 
more than the future good of philately, persuaded our postal authorities to 
undertake this sale as a source of revenue. We cannot regard stamp peddling 
as commendable in any government, least of all in a great and wealthy one, 
and we are glad to know that, in this instance, the resulting sales were so 
unsatisfactory as to make it improbable that a similar expedient will soon be 
attempted. It is also quite apparent that this issue was an injury to philately 
and lessened the interest of collectors in the newspaper and periodical stamps, 
instead of increasing it. 

After the Post Office Department had decided to confer this un- 
appreciated boon on philatelists, the following circular was issued : 

Circular announcing SALE OF NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. 

the sale of the PoST 0mcE Department 

newspaper stamps. 

Office of the Third Assistant Postmaster General, 

Washington, D. C, Feb. 4, 1899. 

Announcement is hereby made that, in compliance with numerous requests made to 
the Postmaster General, by collectors and others, enough of the newspaper and periodical 
stamps lately in use by postmasters to make up 50,000 complete sets have been reserved by 
the Department for sale, and that on and after the 15th instant, they may be had of post- 
masters at first-class post offices, or upon application to the Third Assistant Postmaster 
General, at the rate of five dollars a set — the set consisting of one each of the following 
twelve denominations : One, two, five, ten, twenty-five, and fifty cents, and two, five, ten, 
twenty, fifty, and one hundred dollars. When applications are made by mail, the money to 
pay for the stamps must accompany the order, with ten cents additional to pay for postage 
and registry fee on the returned packet. 

Not less than a full set will in any case be sold ; but as many more whole sets as may 
be wanted can be bought. When two sets or more are desired, any or all of the several 



REPRINTS, ETC. NEWSPAPER AND PERIODICAL STAMPS. 



363 



denominations may be had in an unsevered condition, that is to say, in strips not exceeding 
ten stamps each, or in blocks of four or more. The Department, however, cannot require 
postmasters to segregate, for the accommodation of purchasers, marginal strips of stamps 
bearing plate numbers ; nor can any guarantee be given that the stamps shall be perfectly 
" centered". It must also be understood that the stamps are not good for postage, and that 
after their purchase they cannot be redeemed or exchanged for others by the Government. 

The sale of these stamps will continue up to the 31st of December next, unless the 
stock is sooner disposed of ; but no more than the 50,000 sets will be sold, and no more will 
heieafter be printed. In fact, the working plates from which the stamps were printed will 
shortly be destroyed. 

The newspaper and periodical stamps of a former issue— of which fragramentary lots 
have been returned to the Department by postmasters — will not be sold, but together with 
the stock of the last issue returned in excess of the 50,000 reserved sets, will all be des- 
troyed. 

John A. Merritt, 

Third Ass't P. M. Gen'l. 

Although this circular contained the promise that only 50,000 sets 
would be sold, we now know that that number were distributed to post offices, 
and, in addition, 5,000 sets were placed on sale at the Post Office Department 
in Washington, and 1,250 sets supplied to the Third Assistant Postmaster 
General. It will be observed that nothing was said about some of the stamps 
having been especially printed to make up these sets. On the contrary, the 
circular was so worded as to convey the impression that all the stamps were 
remainders. 

On attempting to make up the 50,000 sets it was found that there 
was not on hand a sufficient quantity of five of the values, so reprints were 
made to supply the deficiency. The five values were the 5, 10, 20, 50 and 
100 dollars. The reprinting was done in February, 1899, from plates 137, 
138, 139, 135 and 140. The quantities were: 





Remainders. 


Reprints. 


5 dollars 


155 


49> 8 45 


10 dollars 


1 1,640 


3 8 >3 6 ° 


20 dollars 


8,780 


41,220 


50 dollars 


"6,245 


33-755 


100 dollars 


7,685 


42,315 



They 
The 



It is said that eventually 5,000 originals of each of the four higher 
values were used and 45,000 reprints. It has not been ascertained whether 
or not any originals of the stamps above 2 dollars were included in the 5000 
and 1250 sets mentioned in a preceding paragraph. 

The reprints are on the regular paper, watermarked U. S. P. S. 
have a smooth white gum while the gum of the originals is yellowish 
colors lack depth and richness and look cold and thin. They are: 

5 dollars slate-blue 
io dollars gray-green 
20 dollars lilac-gray 
50 dollars brownish rose 
100 dollars bluish purple 

On referring to page 328 it will be seen that 26,989 of the sets were 
sold; we do not know how many reprints were included in them, 



Additional sets 
placed on sale. 



Plates. 



(Quantities 
reprinted. 



Characteristics. 



Quantities sold- 



364 



REPRINTS, ETC. — POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. 



Postage Due Stamps. 



Characteristics. 



Plates. 



Quantities sold. 



In 1879 there was added to the reproductions of our postal issues a 
special printing of the stamps for postage due. The stamps of this printing 
are on the paper of the American Bank Note Co., perforated 12 and without 
gum. They are printed in dark red brown. 

For each of the four higher values there was only one plate, probably 
the two cent stamps were printed from plate 315, but, in the absence of 
copies with plate numbers attached, we have no means of knowing which 
plates were used for the one and three cents. 

There were prepared, sold and destroyed as follows : 



Oct. 25, 1879, Received 
July 16, 1884, On hand 



Sold 

Oct. 25, 1879, Received 
July 16, 1884, On hand 

Sold 



1 cent. 


2 cents. 


3 cents. 


5 cents. 


5>5°° 


5,5°° 


5,S°o 


3,5°° 


1,080 


4,139 


5, 64 


3.25 1 


4,420 


1,361 


436 


249 


10 cents. 


30 cents. 


50 cents. 




3»5 C ° 


1,500 


1,500 




3.326 


i,3 21 


i,3 21 





174 



179 



179 



From the report of the Postmaster General, dated October 25th, 1897, 
Plates destroyed, we learn that, in the preceding summer, the plates of all obsolete issues of 
stamps were destroyed. The unpleasant possibility of future reprintings of 
these issues is thus removed. 



Official Seals. 



Beginning in the year 1872, there have been used in the postal service 
various adhesive labels, commonly termed official seals. They do not bear 
any expression of value, have no franking power, and are in no sense postage 
stamps. Consequently they have no claim to a place in a work devoted to 
that subject. But — probably because they are in the form of stamps and are 
affixed to letters — many collectors have thought them to be of interest and 
have admitted them to their albums. In deference to these collectors I shall 
briefly describe the several varieties of the seals. 



Seals for Registered Letters and Packages. 



The first seal issued was designed to secure registered letters from 
being tampered with while in transit. It was intended to be affixed over the 
juncture of the flaps of the large envelopes in which registered letters are Date of issue, 
enclosed. Its issue was announced in a circular of the Third Assistant Post- 
master General, dated February 14th, 1872, but it does not appear to have 
attracted the attention of philatelists until some months latter. It was first 
described in the American Journal of Philately for June, 1872. 

A communication to the American Philatelist for December 10th, 1889, 
claims that these seals were intended to be used for a variety of purposes. 
But Mr. Duncan S. Walker refutes this, in the number dated January 10th, 
1890. He says : 

" Now a word as to the green registered seals. They were never 'issued', as stated 
by your correspondent in the article mentioned, ' to postmasters, to seal letters opened by 
mistake, to be returned to the Dead-letter Office and to prevent their contents from falling p llri)0se f the seal. 
out.' They were never used for any other purpose than to seal the registered packages, in 
which were carried registered letters. The Post Office Department especially prohibited 
their use for any other purpose. When the registered package envelope of the design of 
February, 1872, was adopted for use, these green seals were adopted currently with it. They 
were issued to postmasters in like quantities with the registered packages, i. e. where 1,000 
registered packages were sent to a postmaster, he was supplied at the same time with 1,000 
registered seals. Although these registered packages were gummed and fastened securely at 
the top and flap, it was thought the seal, heavily gummed and intended to be made, accord- 
ing to the intention of the designer, of brittle paper, would be an additional security. Their 
use was discontinued when a later style of registered package was adopted." 

This seal is engraved on steel and printed typographically. In the 
middle is a circle, 31 *^mm. in diameter, filled with ruled lines which diverge 
like rays from a central point. Around the circle is a broad white band, Design. 



3 66 



OFFICIAL SEALS. 



Gum anil 
perforation. 



Reference List. 



Plates. 



Reprint. 



inscribed in colored sans-serif capitals, " stamp here — date and place of 
mailing." The two parts of the inscription are separated by small Maltese 
crosses. At the left, in three curved lines of large white Roman capitals, is 
"post — office — department", and at the right, similarly arranged, "united 
— states — of America". The background is filled with horizontally ruled 
lines. The word "registered", in very large shaded capitals, extends entirely 
across the circle and inscriptions. In the corners are small tablets, surrounded 
by a triangular device of involved lines. The tablets in the upper corners 
bear the letters " u. s." in monogram. Those in the lower corners have the 
letters "p. o. d." interlaced. The entire design is surrounded by a single 
thin colored line and forms a rectangle 72x40mm. 

This seal is found on a variety of papers. The gum is yellowish or 
brownish and the perforation is of the same guage as that of the postage 
stamps of that date. Copies which are imperforate at either top or bottom 
are very common. From these and from fragments of sheets which I have 
seen, I conclude that many of the sheets were not perforated along those two 
edges. I have never seen any evidence that they were imperforate at the 
sides. 

Perforated 12. 

White Wove Paper. 
Feb. 14th, 1872. No value, pale yellow-green, yellow-green, pale gray- 

green, gray-green, light green, green, dark green 

Varieties : 
No value, deep green. Imperforate 
No value, gray-green. Impression on the reverse 

Pelure Paper. 
No value, light yellow-green 

Horizontally Laid Paper. 
No value, green, deep green 

The plates for this issue were made by the National Bank Note Co. 
At least two are known to have existed. The first had thirty seals, arranged 
in six rows of five; the second had only nine seals, in three rows of three. 
The smaller plate had neither imprint nor plate number. I have never seen 
a full sheet from the larger plate and so cannot say whether it had an imprint 
or not, but the records show that it had no number. The stamps with 
imperforate margins, mentioned in a previous paragraph, came from the 
larger plate. 

The use of this seal was abandoned at some time in the year 1875. It 
was reprinted about 1880. The reprint was probably sent to the Post Office 
Department in company with the special printing of the postage stamps of the 
1870-79 issue which was placed on sale July 16th, 1880. It was made by the 
American Bank Note Co. and is on the soft porous paper which they always 
used for postage stamps. The gum is yellowish-white and rather streaked. 
The reprint has a very fresh and new appearance and may be readily dis- 
tinguished by the whiteness of the paper and the bluish tint of the ink. 



OFFICIAL SEALS. 



367 



Soft Porous Wove Paper. 
Perforated 12. 
July 1 6th, 1880 (?) No value, bluish green, deep bluish green 



Seals for Packages of Stamps sent to Postmasters. 



Two forms of seal have been employed upon packages of stamps sent 
to postmasters from the United States Postage Stamp Agency or the Post 
Office Department. Mr. Tiffany says they were first used about the end of 
the year 1875. I have not found any other mention of them. 

The first design forms a large rectangle, 102x52mm. In the centre is 
the monogram " u. s.", in large white ornamental capitals. The letters are 
displayed on a mat of geometric lathework of irregular outline. A broad 
band of ruled lines frames the design. This band is broken at the bottom 
by a tablet of lathework, at each side by an ornamental device, and at the 
top by a tablet of solid color, inscribed " u. s. postage stamp agency ", in 
white block capitals, 5mm. high. At each corner is a trefoil of geometric 
lathework and the background is filled with a network of interlaced loops. 

This seal is lithographed on white wove paper, of poor quality and 
varying slightly in thickness. The design is nearly covered by a large type- 
set inscription reading : 

postmasters receiving this package 

will please 

NOTE ITS CONDITION. 

If showing signs of having been tam- 
pered with, report the same and return 
this package to 3rd Asst. P. M. General, at 
Washington, D. C. This package 
should be opened at the end. E - w - Barber, 

3rd Asst. P. M. G. 

The first line is in a double curve. The signature reproduces the 
autograph of the Third Assistant Postmaster General. The name of E. W. 
Barber was subsequently replaced by that of A. D. Hazen. In the years 
1887 and 1888. H. R. Harris filled the position of Third Assistant Postmaster 
General. It is reasonable to suppose that there was a seal bearing his name, 
though I have never seen a copy. 

At first the seals were printed in brown and the overprint in black. 
At a later date the colors were changed to rose (often very pale and indistinct) 
for the lithographed portion, and red for the overprint. 

These seals are imperforate and usually have a margin of about 4mm. 
all around. There is nothing to indicate by whom they were made and we 
have no printed information on this subject or in regard to the number in a 
sheet. I list such varieties as I have seen. 



Date of issue. 



First design. 



Overprint. 



Changes in the 
signature. 



Colors. 



368 



OFFICIAL SEALS. 



Reference List. 



Second design. 



Varieties. 



Reference List. 



1875- 

1877? 

1889? 



White Wove Paper. 

Imperforate. 

Black surcharge. Signature of E. W. Barber. 
No value, yellow-brown 

Black surcharge. Signature of A. D. Hazen. 

No value, yellow-brown, pale yellow-brown, bistre-brown 

Red surcharge. Signature of A. D. Hazen. 

No value, rose, pink, pale pink, salmon-pink 



The second design is slightly larger than the first and forms a rectangle 
i2o^x66^mm. The rectangle is almost filled by a mat of geometrical lathe- 
work. The outline is broken by semi-circular ornaments at each corner. 

The design is printed by lithography, on coarse white wove paper. It 
is nearly covered by a type-set overprint, in black, which reads : 

OPEN AT END. 



THE POSTMASTER TO WHOM THIS PACKAGE IS SENT MUST NOTE 
ITS CONDITION AND CAREFULLY COUNT ITS CONTENTS. 

If it shows signs of having been tampered 
with, the fact should be reported to the third 

ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL. 

If the count shows a deficiency in the contents of the package, or an excess, 
the case must be treated as indicated in Sec. 120 P L. & R. The Postmaster 
should not correspond with the Stamp Agent, but with the Third Assistant 
Postmaster-General. See also Sec. 1088 as to misdirected packages. 

KERR CRAIGE, 

Third Assistant Postmaster-General. 

A second variety has the name of Kerr Craige obliterated by two 
horizontal bars and that of John A. Merritt printed at the left, in sans-serif 
capitals. It is probable that this seal was made either to meet an urgent 
demand or to use up a large quantity which had been prepared with Mr. 
Craige's name. We may expect that there was a later printing on which only 
Mr. Merritt's name appeared. 

In 1899, Edwin C. Madden became Third Assistant Postmaster Gen- 
eral and still retains the office. The current seal bears his name. The design 
and color are the same as those of the seal just described but the overprint 
has been reset, different fonts of type being used, and the arrangement of the 
last three lines slightly changed. 

These seals are imperforate and have a margin of about 4mm. on each 
side. I am unable to say by whom they are made or how many there are in 
a sheet. 

White Wove Paper. 
Imperforate. 

Black surcharge. Signature of Kerr Craige. 
1893 ? No value, dull rose 



OFFICIAL SEALS. 



369 



1897? 
1899? 



Black surcharge. Signature of John A. Merritt. 
No value, dull rose 

Black surcharge. Signature of Edwin C. Madden. 
No value, dull rose 



Seals for Letters Opened in the Dead Letter Office, or Through 
Mistake, or Damaged in Transit. 

In the early part of 1877 — the American Journal of Philately for 1888, 
gives the date as January, 1877 — a seal was issued which was designed to be 
used in re-sealing letters opened in the Dead Letter Office. It is said to have 
also been used to seal letters opened by mistake and those damaged in transit. 
I have not been able to confirm these statements in regard to this particular 
seal. 

It is engraved in tattle douce on steel. In a small oval medallion in 
the center is a head of Liberty, full-faced. On solid tablets, at left and right 
respectively, are "officially" and "sealed", in white sans-serif capitals. 
Above these is curved " post office department ", in shaded block letters, 
and in a double curve below is "united states of America", in "Old 
English " type. In each corner are the letters " u. s." in monogram. The 
background is filled with the words " post obitum " in minute Roman capitals, 
many times repeated. The entire design is surrounded by a broad rectangular 
frame with rounded corners. This frame is composed of closely ruled vertical 
lines and is so shaded as to appear to be raised above the rest of the design. 
The lower side of the frame bears the inscription, "national bank note 

COMPANY, NEW YORK." > 

There were one hundred stamps on the plate, arranged in ten rows of 
ten. There was no plate number. I do not know whether there was an 
imprint or not. The work was done by the National Bank Note Co., though 
the contract for the manufacture of postage stamps was, at that time, held by 
the Continental Bank Note Co. 

This seal measures 44x27 ^mm. It is printed on thin hard paper, 
perforated and has brownish gum. 

White Wove Paper, 

Perforated 12. 

Jan. 1877. No value, dark brown, dark red-brown. 

It is said that the words " post obitum " were placed on the foregoing 
seal as a joke. Either the joke ceased to be amusing or it was decided to be 
in poor taste. Consequently a new design was prepared, differing from that 
of the first seal only in the background, the small letters being replaced by a 
pattern of loops in cycloidal ruling. At the same time the vertical lines on 
the face of the frame and many of its outlines were recut and strengthened. 
The size remained the same as before. 

The American Journal of Philately for July, 1888, gives the date of 
issue of this second seal as May, 1879. 



Design. 



l'latc. 



Reference List. 



Changes in the 
design. 



Date of issue. 



37° 



OFFICIAL SEALS. 



There were at least two plates made for this seal. The first contained 
one hundred impressions, arranged in ten rows of ten. It had no plate number, 
riates nmi imprints, at least none was assigned to it at the time it was made. I do not know if it 
had an imprint or not but I suspect that it bore that of the American Bank 
Note Co. The second plate contained fifty seals, arranged in ten rows of 
five. At the middle of each of the four sides was placed the imprint 
" American bank note company, new york," in very small Roman capitals, 
%mm. high and 33 ^mm. long. This is an exact duplicate of the imprint 
placed on the plate of the one cent newspaper stamp, issued June 3rd, 1885. 
This style of imprint is not known to have been used on any other plates, 
which would tend to confirm the theory that they were both prepared at 
about the same date. On this second plate, at the right of the imprint in 
the upper margin, is a figure " 2 ", reversed and apparently inserted with a 
punch. 

These seals are usually printed on a thin hard semi-transparent paper, 
not at all like that generally used by the American Bank Note Co. Copies 
Paper. on so ft porous paper are scarce. The gum varies from yellowish to pure 

white. 



Reference List. 



May, 1879. 



White Wove Paper. 

Perforated 12. 

No value, brown, dark brown, yellow-brown, red-brown, 
dark red-brown 



Another change 
the seal. 



Method of 
production. 



Distinguishing 

marks of the 

lithographed seal. 



Mr. M. C. Berlepsch has a sheet of these seals from plate 2 which he 
claims was printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. I think he is 
mistaken in this conclusion, which is largely based upon the date at which 
he obtained the sheet. As will be shown shortly, this work is done by the 
Government Printing Office and not by the Bureau of Engraving and Print- 
ing. The character of the work and the paper are not those of the former 
establishment. My opinion is that the sheet belongs to one of the older 
printings by the American Bank Note Co. 

In 1888 a further change took place in the official seal. This was 
first announced in the American Philatelist, dated July 10th, 1888. But 
copies had been obtained by dealers in the early part of June of that year. 
This new seal differed from its predecessor in the absence of the inscription 
on the lower side of the frame and in its generally rough and blurred ap- 
pearance. It was at first announced as being lithographed. Subsequently it 
was said to be " printed from relief plates taken from a wood cut." 

A lithographed seal certainly exists, though it is quite scarce. I have 
not been able to find anything in support of the wood cut theory. An expert 
in engraving and printing informs me that the rough looking seals which are 
so common are phot-engraved and typographically printed. 

The lithographed seal is evidently the result of an attempt to get rid 
of the imprint of the National Bank Note Co., which appeared in the lower 
border of the engraved seals. On a careful examination of the seal, it be- 
comes apparent that the change was effected by first making a lithographic 
transfer of the entire design and then covering the inscription with a piece of 



OFFICIAL SEALS. 



371 



the upper border, taken from another transfer. This piece frequently ex- 
tends a trifle below the bottom line of the lower border and the vertical shad- 
ing lines usually fail to join. There is another point by which this seal may 
be distinguished from the photo-engraved seals. In the left border there 
are eight vertical lines of shading, not counting the line which marks the 
edge of the outer bevel. ^ he ninth line is interrupted by the edge of the 
inner bevel. However, this line is unbroken from about the level of the 
bottom of the " u " of " united " to the edge of the lower bevel. On the 
photo-engraved stamps this line is broken about imm. below the level of 
the "u". 

This seal is printed on very porous white wove paper and perforated 
i 2. The gum is white. The size remains unchanged. 

Porous White Wove Paper. 
Perforated 12. 
June, 1888. No value, yellow-brown 

The stone bore one hundred and forty-three transfers, arranged in 
thirteen rows of eleven stamps each. It had neither imprint nor number. 

Concerning the photo-engraved seals, we find in the American Philate- 
list for January icth, 1890, the following : 

" The two previous issues were finely engraved and comparatively costly. Being 
without an appropriation sufficient for their manufacture, the department had the present 
wretched transfers made and printed at the Government printing office. They were first 
issued imperforate and were sent in that condition to the Dead-Letter Office and to a few 
postmasters, but the bulk of them were sent to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to be 
perforated." 

The first lot of these seals could not have been a source of pride to 
their makers. They were coarsely engraved, over inked and illegibly printed. 
The central medallion was often little better than a blot. The first printings 
were in a chocolate colored ink and the perforation was rough and blind, 
as much of the paper that should have been punched out remained in the holes. 
The color will serve to distinguish the stamps of the first printing which were 
issued imperforate from those of later printings which were left in the same 
condition, either by accident or favor. Subsequently, much clearer impres- 
sions were produced in lighter shades of brown. The perforation was also 
improved. Many, if not all, of the sheets were not perforated around the 
outside rows, thus leaving certain of the seals imperforate on one or two sides. 
About 1 891, the seals were rouletted, for a time, but perforating was soon 
resumed. The paper is always thick, usually soft and porous, but sometimes 
hard and with little or no grain. The gum ranges from brown to pure white. 
These seals do not differ in size from those previously issued. 

White Wove Paper. 
Imperforate. 
1888. No value, chocolate, dark chocolate. 

Perforated 12. 
No value, chocolate, dark chocolate, brown, dark brown, 
pale brown, rose-brown, bistre-brown, gray-brown, 



Reference List. 



Stone. 



Historical. 



Characteristics. 



Reference List. 



372 OFFICIAL SEALS. 

Varieties : 
No value, bistre-brown. Imperforate vertically. 
No value, pale brown, gray-brown. Imperforate. 
No value, dark chocolate. Double impression. 
Rouletted 5^. 
1 89 1. No value, gray-brown. 

From 1888 until the present time the Government Printing Office has 
made all the official seals, with the exception of certain type-set varieties. I 
Sheets. have not been able to learn much about the plates that have been used. Such 

sheets and parts of sheets as I have seen did not bear any imprint or plate 
number. Of the first printing I have seen a sheet of nine rows of eight 
stamps each, with margins at the sides and bottom but cut close at the top, 
apparently indicating that part of the sheet had been cut off. In the later 
gray-brown shade I have seen a sheet with full margins all around, but having 
only six rows of seven stamps each. 



Type-set Seals. 



The type-set seals have always been something of a puzzle to phila- 
telists. Nothing very definite appears to be known about them. So far as 
origiu. can be learned, they are the result of an attempt at governmental economy. 

The Post Office Department appears, at one time, to have compelled post- 
masters to provide stationery and many office fixtures at their own expense- 
This was probably due to insufficient appropriations by Congress. In many 
volumes of the Postal Guide will be found the advertisements of firms who 
dealt in cancelling stamps, pads, inks, blank-books, etc , etc. I am told that, 
in at least one number of this publication, official seals, such as I am about 
to describe, were offered for sale. Most of them are said to have been 
made by a firm of printers " up in New York State," and the advertisement 
referred to was probably theirs. This should have appeared about 1889 or 
1890, for which years I have not been able to obtain the Postal Guide. 

The first of the type-set seals was announced in the American Phila- 
telist, dated February 1 ith, 1889. It was described as being on flesh-colored 
paper; this was probably the color which has since been termed pink or rose. 

This seal may be briefly described as follows: A rectangle, 47x29 
mm., formed of border type, in a pattern of small scallops. Across the seal, 
Desigu. slightly above the middle, are two heavy rules, between which is " officially 

sealed", in large sans-serif capitals, followed by a square period. Above 
this is " u. s. post office department ", in block type; and below "Opened 
through mistake by." At the bottom is a dotted line for the signature. 

The seal is imperforate, but I have not been able to learn whether it 
was printed singly or in sheets. The few copies which I have examined did 
not show any varieties The paper is soft and of medium thickness. 
Reference Mst. Colored Wove Paper. 

Imperforate. 
Feb., 1889, No value, black on rose 



OFFICIAL SEALS. 



373 



A second variety of this seal differs only in the border, which is of the 
style known as Greek or "key pattern," and in having a round period after 
"sealed". I have seen only four or five copies of this seal, all of which 
were alike in every detail. I think it is possible that there was only one 
variety and that the seals were printed one at a time, but the limited amount 
of material at command does not permit a positive conclusion. This variety 
is also imperforate. The size is 5oJ^x29mm. The paper is white and the 
gum yellowish. I do not know at what date it appeared. 

White Wove Paper. 
Imperforate. 
No value, black 

The variety which, I believe, was next issued has also a Greek border 
but it is less open than that on the preceding seal. Across the center is 
"officially sealed ", in fancy capitals, followed by a period and placed 
between two heavy rules. Above this is " u. s. post office department " 
in " Old English " letters, set in a curve, with an ornamental dash below 
" office ". In the lower part are " Ope7ied through mistake by " and a dotted 
line, as on the preceding seal. Size : 50^2x291*™. 

The only copy of this seal which I have seen was rouletted, in color, 
across the bottom, from which I infer that it was printed in pairs, like the 
seals next to be described. 

White Wove Paper. 
Rouletted i6)4 on one side. 
No value, black 

The foregoing seal appears to have been the predecessor of a group, 
the members of which differ only slightly from it and from each other. The 
setting is the same as that just described except that there are dotted lines, 
instead of solid rules, above and below " officially sealed ", and a large 
round period between these words but none after the latter one. The size 
remains unchanged. 

The earliest mention of these seals is in the American Journal of 
Philately for August 15th, 1890, and the color is there given as blue. I was 
at first inclined to regard this as a misprint but I have since learned that the 
seal exists in blue, though it is much more common in black. 

These seals are printed in vertical pairs, separated by a line of roulet- 
ting, gauging nj^ or 16^. This rouletting, like all the rouletting of the 
type-set seals, was made by setting, between the seals, printer's rule which had 
a serrated edge. The rule received ink at the same time as the designs and, 
consequently, appears in color. The seals are imperforate except for the 
rouletting between them. 

The paper varies from thin to medium and the gum is yellowish. 

White Wove Paper. 
Rouletted n}^ on one side. 
Aug. 1890. No value, dark dull blue 

No value, black 



Changes in the 
design and paper. 



Reference List. 



Reference List. 



Pesian. 



Colors. 



Rouletting. 



Reference List. 



374 OFFICIAL SEALS. 

Rouletted i6}4 on one side. 

No value, black 

The type-set seals were subsequently printed in blocks of four, pro- 
bably with a view to increased rapidity of production. In these blocks two 
of the seals are placed tete beche to the other two. There are two of these 
groups : in the first, one of the seals has a period between " officially " 
and "sealed"; in the second, all the seals are without the period. Except 
for the removal of the period the setting remains the same as for the seals 
which were printed in pairs. These blocks are rouletted horizontally and 
vertically between the seals but are otherwise imperforate. The rouletting 
gauges ii^ or 12 j4- 

Rouletted 12^ on two sides. 

No value, black. With period 
No value, black. Without period 

Varieties, tete beche : 

No value, black. Without- period 

No value, black. With and without period 

Rouletted n^ on two sides. 

No value, black. Without period 

Variety, tete beche : 

No value, black. Without period 

Rouletted 12^ on two sides. 

No value, black. Without period 

Variety, tete beche : 

No value, black. Without period 



Appendix. 



Abs tract of Laws Relating to the Postal Service in the United 
States from the Year 1639 to the Year 1888. 



From the Report of the Postmaster General for iJ 



colonial period. 

Massachusetts. — Order of the general court, 1639. — " It is ordered that notice be given 
that Richard Fairbanks his house in Boston is the place appointed for all letters which are 
brought from beyond the seas, or are to be sent thither, to be left with him, and he is to First colonial post- 
take care that they are to be delivered or sent according to the direction. And he is allowed master appointed. 
for every letter a penny, and must answer all miscarriages through his own neglect in this 
kind." 

Massachusetts, — May, [677. — Mr. John Hayward appointed by the court "to take in 
and convey letters according to their direction." 

Virginia. — Act of assembly, March 13, 1657. — " That all letters superscribed for the 
public service shall be immediately conveyed from plantation to plantation to the place and 
person directed, under a penalty of 1 hogshead of tobacco for each default ; and if any Conveyance of 
extraordinary charge arise thereby, the commissioners of each country are hereby authorized official letters in 
to judge thereof and levy payment of the same. These superscriptions are to be signed by Virginia. 

the governor, council, or secretary, or any commission of the quorum, or any of the com- 
mittee appointed for the militia." 

Virginia. — Act of assembly, March 23, 1661. — Provides that all letters superscribed 
for the service of his majesty or the public service shall be immediately conveyed from 
planation to planation to the place and person directed, under a penalty of 350 pounds of 
tobacco for each default. " If there is any person in the family where the said letters come 
as can write, such person is required to indorse the day and hour he received them, that the 
neglect or contempt of any person stopping them may be better known and punished 
accordingly." 

Virginia. — Act of assembly, March 16, 1692. — For encouraging the erection of a post- 
office under letters patent granted to Thomas Neale, dated February 17, 1692. (This act 
was conditional, and was never carried into effect.) 

New York. — 1672 — Establishment of a " post to go monthly from New York to Bos- Post between New 
ton ;" postage to be prepaid. York and Boston. 

New York. — December 6, 1702. — The Postmaster General ordered that the post be- 
tween Boston and New York should set out once a fortnight during the months of Decem- 
ber, January, and February. 

Pennsylvania.-— Act of provincial assembly, March, 1683. — "Every justice of the 
peace, sheriff, or constable within the respective countries of this province and territories 
thereof, to whose hands or knowledge any letter or letters shall come directed to or from the 
governor, shall dispatch them within three hours at the furthest after the receipt or knowledge 
thereof, to the next sheriff or constable, and so forwards as the letters direct, upon 
the penalty of 20 shillings for every hour's delay. And in such cases, all justices of the 
peace, sheriffs, or constables are herewith empowered to press either man or horse for that 
purpose, allowing for a horse or man 2 pence a mile, to be paid out of the public stock." 

Pennsylvania. — Act of general assembly, May, \6y}. — " To the end that mutual cor- 
respondences may be maintained, and that letters may speedily and safely be dispatched 
from place to place : Be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that a general post office First general post 
may be erected by Andrew Hamilton, at Philadelphia, from whence all letters and packets office in Penn- 
may be with all expedition sent into any of the parts of New England and other the adjacent sylvania. 

colonies in these parts of America, at which said office all return . and answers may be received. 



376 



APPENDIX. 



" And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that it shall be lawful for the 
said Andrew Hamilton, or some other as shall be appointed by the King, to be Postmaster 
General in these parts, and his deputy or deputies in that office, to demand, receive, and 
take for the postage of all such letters so by him conveyed or sent by post, as follows : 

"All foreign letters from Europe, the West Indies, or any part beyond the seas, 2 
pence each single letter which is to be accounted such, although it contain bills of lading, 
invoices, gazettes, etc., and for each packet of letters, 4 pence. And if packets of letters lie 
at the office unclaimed for the space of forty-eight hours, the postmasters then sending them 
forthwith to the respective houses of the persons to whom they are directed, 1 penny more 
for every such letter or packet. And for all foreign letters outward bound t^ere shall be 
delivered into the post-office 2 pence each letter or packet The port or inland letters to or 
from New York to Philadelphia, 4 pence halfpenny ; to or from Philadelphia to Connecticut, 
9 pence ; to or from Philadelphia to Rhode Island, 12 pence; to or from Philadelphia to 
Boston, 15 pence; to or from Philadelphia to the eastern parts of New England beyond 
Boston, 19 pence; to or from Philadelphia to Lewis, Maryland, and Virginia, 9 pence; to 
and from every place within 80 miles of Philadelphia, 4)4 pence. All letters belonging to 
the public to be received and dispatched free of all charges, and the post to pass ferriage 
free at all ferries within this province, town of New Castle, and country depending. Pro- 
vided always, that the said Andrew Hamilton shall within three months next ensuing prefix 
certain days of his setting forth and return, and shall continue constant posts to pass from 
Philadelphia to New York, and from Philadelphia to New Castle." 

Pennsylvania — Act of assembly, May, 1697. — Increasing the rates of postage, and 
paying the postmaster ^20 a year for three years. 

South Carolina. — Ordinance ratified September 10, 1702. — Whereas several foreign 
letters are imported into this part of the province, therefore, for the maintainance of 
mutual correspondence and prevention of many inconveniences that may happen from 
miscarriages of the same, and that an office may be managed so that safe dispatch may be 
had, which is most likely to be effected by erecting one general post office for that purpose : 

Be it therefore enacted by his Excellency John Granvill, esq , palatine, etc., that every 
master of a ship shall deliver all letters in his custody to Mr. Edward Bourne, and to no 
First postmaster iu other person, and he is required to make an exact list of such letters which shall be fixed in 
South Carolina. some public place in the house of the said Bourne, there to remain thirty days ; and on 
delivery of each letter he shall write opposite the name of the person addressed the name of 
person to whom the letter is delivered ; and the said Bourne shall receive for each and every 
packet or letter leceived and delivered one-half royal and no more. If he refuses to perform 
all or every of these particulars, he shall forfeit for each offense the sum of 40 shillings. And 
the said Bourne is hereby appointed postmaster to receive all such letters as aforesaid, and no 
other person whatsoever, anything in the act for raising a public store of powder for the 
defense of this province, ratified October 8, 1698, contained to the contrary notwithstanding. 
(Repealed by act of September 17, 1703.) 

South Carolina. — Ordinance ratified March 28, 1778. — An act for the erecting of a 
post-office within the State of South Carolina. 

Regulations for the post-offices within the State, in addition to such as are already 
made by the honorable Continental Congress : 

As soot as public offices are established within this State commanders of vessels must 
deposit all letters addressed to persons within this State, or to any of the United States of 
America, in the nearest post-office. The master of a vessel delivering such letters shall be 
entitled to receive from the deputy postmaster of such office 1 shilling and 3 pence currency 
for every letter so delivered, and the person addressed shall pay to the deputy postmaster 
2 shillings and 6 pence for each letter. If letters are not called for within twenty-four hours, 
the postmaster of the town shall send the letter to the person addressed, and may demand 
1 shilling and 3 pence for his trouble more than if the letter were delivered at the post-office. 
If the addressee cannot be found, the postmaster shall advertise it if not called for within 
twenty days, and shall be allowed the expense of advertising. The postmaster shall keep 
his office open from 9 until 1, and from 5 to 7, excepting Sundays in the morning. Post- 
masters are exempt from militia duty. Post riders shall have preference in crossing ferries. 
As soon as post-offices are established in this State by the Continental Congress, or the laws 
of the State, it shall not be lawful for any person to ride post on any public post- road for the 
carriage of more than ten letters on any private occount, under a penalty of ^20. 

Act of Parliament, gth, Queen Anne (1710), chapter x.- Provides that a postmaster- 
Act of Parliament, general shall be appointed for North America from and after June 11, 1711 ; that a chief 
j 710. letter office be erected at New York ; and establishes rates of postage as follows : 

All letters and packets from London to New York, in North America, and thence to London: 

Single, 1 shilling ; double, 2 shillings ; treble, 3 shillings ; ounce, 4 shillings. 
All letters, etc., from any part of the West Indies to New York : Single, 4 pence ; double, 

8 pence ; treble, 1 shilling ; ounce, 1 shilling and 4 pence. 
All letters from New York to Charleston, the chief office in North and South Carolina, and 

from Charleston to New York : Single, 1 shilling 6 pence ; double, 3 shillings ; treble, 

4 shillings 6 pence ; ounce, 6 shillings. 



APPENDIX. 377 

All letters, etc., from Charleston aforesaid, to any place not exceeding 60 English miles : 

Single, 4 pence ; double, 8 pence ; tieble, 1 shilling ; ounce, 1 shilling 4 pence. 
All letters, etc., from Charleston aforesaid, to any place not exceeding 100 English miles: 

Single, 6 pence ; double, 1 shilling ; treble, 1 shilling 6 pence ; ounce, 2 shillings. 

Places where posts are not yet settled to pay according to these rates. 

The charge for every person riding post to be 3 pence for every horse-hire or postage 
for every English mile, and 4 pence for the person riding as guide for every stage ; each 
person being entitled to carry a bundle of goods weighing less than 80 pounds free, the same 
" to be laid on the horse rid by the guide." 

Only the postmaster-general and his deputies to provide horses or furniture for persons 
riding post. 

If the postmaster fail to' furnish horses, etc., to any person riding post within half an 
hour after demand, conveyance may be obtained elsewhere, and the postmaster shall forfeit 
the sum of £^. 

Debts for postage not exceeding £<j are to be recovered as small tithes are. 

Act of Parliament, 4II1 George III (176;) chapter xxiv. — Allows letters on the public 
service sent to and from ihe public officials of the higher ranks to pass through the mails free 
of postage ; and empowers the postmaster- general to authorize certain persons to indorse up- 
on such letters and packets the fact that they are on public business ; printed votes, pro- 
ceedings in Parliament, and newspapers sent without covers, or in covers open at the side, 
to go free. 

Act of Parliament, q//? George III (1765) chapter xxv. — Repeals the act of 1710, fix- 
ing the rates of postage of letters between London and the British dominions in America Act of Parliament, 
and places within the said dominions, and establishes the following rates to take effect 1765. 

October 10, 1765 : 
For all letters and packets passing from London to any port within the British dominions in 

America, and from any" such port unto London : For every single letter, 1 shilling ; 

double, 2 shillings ; treble, 3 shillings ; ounce, 4 shillings. 
For all letters and packets conveyed by sea from any port in the British dominions in America, 

to any other port within the said dominions : Single, 4 pence ; double, 8 pence ; 

treble, 1 shilling ; ounce, 1 shilling 4 pence ; and so in proportion for every package of 

deeds, writs, and other things. 
For the inland conveyance of all letters and packets to or from any chief post-office within 

the British dominions in America from or to any other part of the said dominions, not 

exceeding 60 British miles : Single, 4 pence ; double, 8 pence ; treble, 1 shilling ; 

ounce, 1 shilling°and 4 pence. 
And being upwards of 60 such miles, and not exceeding 100 miles : single, 6 pence ; double, 

1 shilling ; treble, 1 shilling 6 pence ; ounce, 2 shillings. 
All letters, etc., from New York to any place within 60 English miles thereof, thence back to 

New York: Single, 4pence; double, 8pence; treble, 1 shilling; ounce, 1 shilling 4 pence. 
All letters, etc., from New York to Perth Amboy, the chief town in West New Jersey, and 

from each of those places back to New York, to any place not exceeding ico English 

miles, and from each of those places to New York : Single, 6 pence ; double 1 shilling; 

tieble, 1 shilling 6 pence ; ounce, 2 shillings. 
All letters and packets from Perth Amboy and Bridlington to any place not exceeding 60 

English miles, and thence back again : Single, 4 pence ; double, 8 pence ; treble, 

1 shilling ; ounce, 1 shilling 4 pence. 
All letters and packets from Perth Amboy and Bridlington to any place not exceeding 100 

English miles, and thence back again : Single, 6 pence ; double, 1 shilling ; treble, 

1 shilling 6 pence ; ounce, 2 shillings. 
All letters, etc., from New York to New London, the chief town in Connecticut, in New 

England, and to Philadelphia, the chief town in Pennsylvania, and from those places 

back to New York : Single, 9 pence ; double, 1 shilling 6 pence ; treble, 2 shillings 

3 pence ; ounce, 3 shillings. 
All letters and packets from New London and Philadelphia to any place not exceeding 60 

English miles, and thence back again : Single, 4 pence ; double, 8 pence ; treble, 

1 shilling ; ounce, r shilling 4 pence. 
All letters, etc., from New London and Philadelphia to any place not exceeding 100 English 

miles, and so back again : Single, 6 pence ; double, 1 shilling ; treble, 1 shilling 6 

pence ; ounce, 2 shillings. 
All letters and packets from New York to Newport, the chief town in Rhode Island and 

Providence Plantation in New England and to Boston, the chief town in Massachusetts 

Bay in New England, and to Portsmouth, the chief town in New Hamsphire, New 

England, and to Annapolis, the chief town in Maryland, and from every of those 

places to New York : Single, 1 shilling ; double, 2 shillings ; treble, 3 shillings ; 

ounce, 4 shillings. 
All letters and packets from Newport, Boston, Portsmouth, and Annapolis, to any place not 

exceeding 60 English miles, and thence back again : Single, 4 pence ; double, 8 pence; 

treble, 1 shilling ; ounce, 1 shilling 4 pence. 



378 APPENDIX. 

All letters, etc., from Newport, Boston, Portsmouth and Annapolis, to any place not exceed- 
ing 100 English miles : Single, 6 pence ; double, 1 shilling ; treble, 1 shilling 6 pence ; 
ounce, 2 shillings. 

All letters and packets from New York to the chief offices in Salem and Ipswich, and to the 
chief office in Piscataway, and to Williamsburgh, the chief office in Virginia, and 
from every of those offices to New York : Single, 1 shilling 3 pence ; double, 2 shil- 
lings 6 pence ; treble, 3 shillings 9 pence ; ounce, 5 shillings. 

All letters, etc., from the chief offices in Salem, Ipswich, Piscataway, and Williamsburgh, 
to any place not exceeding 60 English miles : Single, 4 pence ; double, 8 pence ; 
treble, 1 shilling ; ounce, 1 shilling 4 pence. 

All letters, etc., from the chief offices in Salem, Ipswich, Piscataway, and Williamsburgh, 
to any place not exceeding 100 English miles : Single, 6 pence ; double, 8 pence ; 
treble, 1 shilling ; ounce, 2 shillings. 

And being upwards of 100 miles and not over 200 miles : Single, 8 pence ; double, 1 shilling 
4 pence ; treble, 2 shillings ; ounce, 2 shillings 8 pence. 

And for every distance not exceeding 100 miles beyond such 200 miles, and for every such 
further distance : Single, 2 pence ; double, 6 pence ; treble, 8 pence ; and so in pro- 
portion for every packet of deeds, writs, etc. 
Authorizes the appointment of surveyors in the chief post-offices in America. 
Penny post Empowers the Postmaster-General to establish penny-post offices in America. 

authorized. Limits the weight of packets sent by penny-post to 4 ounces. 

Authorizes the Postmaster-General to demand prepayment of postage on all letters sent out 

of Great Britian. 

Fixes penalties for embezzling any letter, etc.; for robbing the mails ; for misappling 

postage money ; and for advancing rates and not accounting for same. 

PERIOD OF THE CONFEDERATION. 

Resolution of Congress, May 29, 1775. — Naming a committee to consider the best 
means of establishing posts throughout the continent. 

Act of July 26, 1775. — Provides for the appointment of a Postmaster-General for the 
United Colonies, whose office shall be at Philadelphia, his salary to be $1,000 per annum, 
and that of secretary and comptroller $340 ; that a line of posts be established from Falmouth, 
New England, to Savannah, Ga. ; that deputies shall receive as compensation 20 per cent, on 
amount collected when said amount does not exceed $r,ooo, and 10 per cent, for all sums 
above $1 ,000 a year ; that deputy postmasters account quarterly with the General Post- Office, 
and the Postmaster-General annually with the continental treasurers, paying to said treasurers 
the profits of the post-office ; if the expense should exceed the profits, the deficiency to be 
made good by the United Colonies and paid to the Postmaster-General by the continental 
treasurers. 

Resolution of July 26, 177s. — Recommending that the Postmaster-General establish a 
weekly post to South Carolina ; that it be left to the Postmaster-General to appoint a sec- 
retary and comptroller. 
Benjamin Franklin /„/,, 2 g 1775. — Benjamin Franklin unanimously chosen Postmaster-General for one 

appointed Post- year> a nd until another is appointed. 

master General. Resolution of Congress, November 8, 1775. — That all letters to and from delegates of 

the United Colonies, during the sessions of Congress, be carried free of postage. 

Resolution of Congress, January 9, 1776. — That letters to and from private soldiers in 
actual service be carried free of postage. 

Resolution of Congress, April 9, 1776. — That letters directed to any general in the 
Continental service be carried free of postage. 

Resolution of Congress, April 16, 1776. — That only the committee of safety in each 
colony shall stop the post, open the mail, or detain letters therefrom. 

Resolution of Congress, July 8, 1776. — That postmasters be excused from military duty. 

Resolution of Congress, August 8, 1776 — That post-riders be exempt from military 
duty. 

Resolution of Congress, August 30, 1776. — That there be employed on the public 
posts-roads a rider for every 25 or 30 miles, who shall set out three times a week, on receipt 
ol mail, and travel night and day, until it is delivered to the next rider. 

Resolution of Congress, September 7, 1776. — That lettters to and from the Board of 
War and Ordnance, or secretary of the same, be carried free of postage. 

Resolution of Congress, November 5, 1776. — That the Postmaster-General be authorized 
to employ additional riders between Philadelphia and headquarters of armies; that ferry- 
keepers shall expedite travel of such riders ; and that the deputy postmaster at the head- 
quarters of the army be allowed four rations per day for subsistence of himself, his riders, 
and servant. 

Resolution of Congress, November 7, 1776.- — That Richard Bache be appointed Post- 
master-General in place of Dr. Franklin, who is absent. 

Act of Congress, January 11, 1777.— That the Postmaster- General be directed to 



APPENDIX. 



379 



furnish a list of names of disaffected deputy postmasters, and that he assign reasons why 
the late resolves of Congress for regulating the post-office are not carried into execution. 

Act of Congress, February 17, 1777. — Committee appointed to revise regulations of 
post-office. 

Act of Congress, April 12, 1777. — That the Postmaster-General be authorized to in- 
crease compensation of postmasters to any sum not exceeding $200, when necessary ; that 
$2,000 be advanced to the Postmaster-General, he to be accountable. 

Resolution of Congress, May 12, 1777. — That postmasters, post- riders, and persons 
connected with the post-office ought to be exempted from military duty 

Resolution of Congress, August 1, 1777. — That the commanding officer in the State 
of Georgia be directed to establish a post in the southern part of said State. 

Resolution of Congress, August 6, 1777. — That $2,000 be advanced to Richard Bache, 
Postmaster General, he to be accountable. 

Resolution of Congress, October 17, 1777. — That the Postmaster-General be authorized 
to appoint two additional surveyors of the post-office ; and that all surveyors be allowed $6 
a day ea^h for all expenses, and in place of all other allowance. That the tour be as follows: 
One from Casco Bay to Philadelphia, or while that city is in possession of the enemy, to 
Lancaster; one from Philadelphia or Lancaster to Edentown, N. C; and the third from 
Edentown to Savannah, Ga. 

That an inspector of dead letters be appointed, with a salary of $100 a year, to ex- 
amine dead letters, to communicate to Congress such as contain inimical schemes or intelli- 
gence, to preserve letters containing valuable articles, and not to divulge the contents of 
letters to any but Congress. 

That the rate of postage be increased 50 per cent. 

That an allowance be made to the present surveyor of the post-office for past extra- 
ordinary service. 

Resolution of Congress, November 4, 1777. — That $3,000 be advanced to Richard 
Bache, Postmaster-General. 

Articles of Confederation, Article IX. — Ratified July 9, 1778. — Gives to Congress the 
sole and exclusive right and power of establishing and regulating post-offices in the United 
States, and exacting "such postage as may be necessary to defray the expenses of the said 
office." 

Resolution of Congress, April 16, 1779. — That $11,9673/3 be advanced to the Post- 
master-General to pay debts 

That the present rate of postage shall be doubled. 

That the annual salary of the Postmaster-General for the future shall be $2,000. 

That the pay of surveyors and comptroller shall be doubled. 

Resolution of Congress, December 1, 1770 — That accounts of the Postmaster General 
be referred to board of the treasury for adjustment and liquidation. 

That the salary of the Postmaster-General be increased to $3,500 per annum, from 
September 1, 1778. 

That the comptroller's salary be increased to $2,500 per annum, from September 1 
1778. 

Resolution of Congress, December 27, 1779. — That the post shall set out and arrive at 
the places where Congress shall be sitting twice each week, to go as far as Boston, State of 
Massachusetts Bay, and to Charleston, S. C. 

That no express riders shall be maintained at public expense. 

That the three surveyors of the post-office shall be allowed the sum of $40 a day. 

That the pay of the Postmaster-General be increased to $5,000, and that of the comp- 
troller to $4,000. 

Resolution of Congress, December 28, 1779 — That the rate of postage, until further 
order of Congress, be 20 prices upon the sums paid in the year 177s. 

That single letters directed to any officer of the line, and all letters directed to general 
officers, or to officers commanding in a separate department, and all letters to and from the 
ministers, commissioners, and secretaries of the United States at foreign courts, be free. 

Resolution of May 5, 1780. — That the present rates of postage be doubled. 

That masters of vessels be required to put in the post-office all letters brought by 
them from abroad 

Resolution of June 30, 1780.— Ordering the committee on the post-office to direct the 
Postmaster-General to make arrangements by which the southern post-riders shall arrive at 
the place where Congress is sitting only once a week, while the express line established by 
Governor Jefferson between the southern and northern armies is kept up. 

Resolution of September 13, 1780-— Allows the Postmaster-General $1,000 a year 
salary, to be paid quarterly. 

Resolution of December 12, 1780. — Fixes the rate of postage on letters at half the 
rates paid at the commencement of the present war. 

Resolution of August 1, 1 78 r. — Appoints a committee to report the state of the present 
expenses of the post-office, and a system for regulating the same in future. 

Resolution of October 19, 1781. — Changes postage to what it was at the commencement 



Control of post 

offices Tested iu 

Congress. 



3 8o 



APPENDIX. 



Act of Congress, 
Oct. 18, 1782. 



State money refused 
for postage. 



Only specie receiv- 
able for postage. 



of the war ; authorizes the Postmaster-General to allow such commissions as he shall think 
proper, not exceeding 20 per cent, (to take effect December 1, 1781). Salary of the Post- 
master-General to be $1,230; that of Assistant Postmaster-General, $850. 

Resohdion of January 28, 1782 — Ebenezer Hazard, inspector of dead letters, elected 
Postmaster-General ; James Biyson, Assistant Postmaster-General 

Act of Congress, October 18, 1782. — 1. Continued communication by post shall exist 
from New Hampshire to Georgia. 

2. The Postmaster-General shall superintend the appointment of assistants, etc. 

3. The Postmaster-General and his assistants shall not open, detain, delay, secrete, 
embezzle, or destroy, any letter, packet, or dispatch, except by consent of the person to whom 
the same may be addressed, or by an express warrant under the hand of the President of 
Congress of the United States, or, in time of war, of the commanding officer of a separate 
army, or of the chief executive officer of one of the said States. No franked letter shall be 
opened by any military officer. 

4. The Postmaster-General shall take the oath of office, and forfeit $1,000 for violat- 
ing it. 

5 and 6. Only the Postmaster-General and his deputies shall carry mail-matter. 

7. Mail shall be carried at least once a week. 

8. List of undelivered letters to be published quarterly by postmasters, and at the 
expiration of the succeeding quarter to be sent to the Dead-Letter Office. 

9. Extra post-riders may be employed when necessary. 

10. Postage rates shall be as follows, in pennyweights and giains of silver, estimating 
each pennyweight as five-ninetieths of a dollar : Any distance not exceeding 60 miles, 1 
pennyweight, 8 grains; upwatds of 60 miles and not exceeding 100, 2 pennyweights; upwards 
of 100 miles and not exceeding 200, 2 pennyweights 16 grains; and so on, 16 grains advance 
for every 100 miles; and for single letters to or from Europe, 4 pennyweights; double, treble, 
etc., for increased sizes. And all letters except dead letters shall remain in the office until 
postage is paid. 

11. Post-riders may be licensed to carry newspapers at such rates as the Postmaster- 
General may establish. 

12. Surplus of income over expenditures to be applied to payment of advances here- 
tofore made to the Postmaster-General; after payment of which, surplus to be devoted to 
establishment of new offices and routes; if expenses exceed income, the deficiency to be 
supplied by the superintendent of finance on warrants of the Postmaster-General. 

13. Salary of the Postmaster-General to be $[,500; salary of Assistant Postmaster- 
General to be $1,000. 

14. The franking privilege granted to members of Congress and chief officers of the 
government. 

Act of December 24, 1782. — Modification of post-office law; no important changes. 

Act of February 28, 1783 — Official letters to be sent free. 

Act of November 1, 1783. — The Postmaster-General directed to cause an extra post 
to be furnished whenever required by the President. 

Resolution of April 6, 1784. — Directing the Postmaster-General to discharge account 
of Jonathan Deare and Joseph Olden, amounting to £4 16s , for disbursements and services 
in case of robbery of mail at Princeton. 

Resolution of April 28, 1784. — That letters and packets to and from the Commander- 
in Chief of the United States armies shall be carried postage free, and the Postmaster- 
General is directed to refund to the late commander-in chief all money paid by him for 
postage since the time of his resignation. 

Resolution of May ir. 1784. — The postmaster at Princeton exonerated from blame in 
case of the robbery at his office. 

Resolution of February 7, 1785. — The Postmaster-General to remove the department 
to New York on or before the 1st of March next. 

Resolution of June 30, 1785 — The Postmaster-General to inquire and report as to best 
terms for carrying the mails. 

Resolution of September 7, 1785. — The Postmaster-General authorized to make con- 
tracts for carrying mail. 

Resolution of October 5, 1785. — The Postmaster-General authorized to establish cross- 
posts. 

Resolution of June 21, 1786. — That the Postmaster-General be informed that Con- 
gress approves his conduct in directing deputy postmasters not to receive the paper money 
of any State for postage on letters. 

Resolution of September 4, 1786 — The Postmaster-General authorized to contract for 
transportation of the mail, and for establishing cross-posts. 

Resolution of September — , 1786. — Directing the Postmaster General to instruct post- 
masters to receive no other money than specie in payment of postage. 

Authorizing the Postmaster-General to demand postage at the time letters are put 
into the office. 

Resolution of October 23, 1786.— Authorizing the Secretary of the United States of 



APPENDIX. 



38* 



America for the Department of Foreign Affairs to inspect any letters in any of the post-offices 
when, in his judgment, the safety or interest of the government requires it, except letters 
franked by or addressed to members of Congress. 

Resolution of February 17, 1787. — Authorizing the Postmaster-General to grant, for 
a term not exceeding seven years, the privilege of carrying letters and packages upon the 
cross-roads in Virginia, from Richmond to Staunton, and from Winchester to Staunton 

Resolution of October 20, 1787. — Postage rates reduced 25 per cent. The Postmaster- 
General authorized to fix rates of postage for carriage of large packets in the mails. 

Resolution of January 2, 1788. — Post-office continued on old establishment until 
February next. 

Resolution of May 20, 1 788. — That mail be regularly transported once a fortnight 
between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Pa , via Lancaster, York, Carlisle, Jamestown, and 
Bedford. 

Resolution of June ir, 1788.— Instructing the Postmaster-General to deliver any 
letters or packets that may be found in examining dead letters, directed to any officer of the 
United States on public business, to such officer free of postage charge. 

Resolution of August 29, 1788. — Authorizing the Postmaster-General to establish a 
weekly post from Wilmington to Dover, Del. 



PERIOD OF THE CONSTITUTION. 

Act September 22, 1789. — For the temporary establishment of the post-office, to con- 
tinue in force until the end of the next session of Congress, and no longer. 

Act August 4, 1790. — Continues in force the act of September 22, 1789, until the end 
of the next Congress, and no longer. 

Act March 3, 1791. — Continues in force the act of September 22, 1789, until the end 
of the next Congress, and no longer. 

This act (March 3, 1 79 1 ) provides that all letters to and from the Treasurer, Comp- 
troller, and Auditor of the Treasury, and the Assistant to the Secretary of the Treasury, on 
public service, shall be received and conveyed by the post free of postage. 

Act February 20, 1792. — Continues in force the act of March 3, 1791, until the 1st of 
June, 1792, and no longer, and provides that this act (February 20, 1792) shall continue in 
force for the term of two years from June 1, 1792, and no longer. 

By this act the Postmaster-General authorized to appoint one Assistant Postmaster- 
General. 

This act (February 20, 1792) was the first act, subsequent to the adoption of the Con- 
stitution, fixing rates of postage on domestic letters. It established the following rates, to 
take effect June 1, 1792 : 

For every single letter not exceeding 30 miles, 6 cents. 

For every single letter over 30 miles, and not exceeding 60 miles, 8 cents. 

For every single letter over 00 miles, and not exceeding 100 miles, 10 cents. 

For every single letter over 100 miles, and not exceeding 150 miles, \i l /z cents. 

For every single letter over 150 miles, and not exceeding 200 miles, 15 cents. 

For every single letter over 200 miles, and not exceeding 250 miles, 17 cents. 

For every single letter over 250 miles, and not exceeding 350 miles, 20 cents. 

For every single letter over 350 miles, and not exceeding 450 miles, 22 cents. 

For every single letter over 450 miles, 25 cents. 

For every double letter, double the said rates. 

For every triple letter, triple the said rates. 

For every packet weighing 1 ounce avoirdupois, to pay at the rate of four single letters 
for each ounce, and in that proportion for any greater weight. 

Act February 20, 1792, section 10. — Letters and packets passing by sea to and from 
the United States, or from one port to another therein, in packet-boats or vessels, the 
property of or provided by the United States, shall be rated and charged as follows : 

For every single letter, 8 cents. 

For every double letter, 16 cents. 

For every triple letter or packet, 24 cents. 

For every letter or packet brought into the United States, or carried from one port 
therein to another by sea, in any private ship or vessel, 4 cents, if delivered at the place 
where the same shall arrive ; and if directed to be delivered at any other place, with the 
addition of the like postage as on domestic letters. 

Act February 20, 1792, section 13. — The postmasters to whom such letters may be 
delivered shall pay to the master, commander, or other person delivering the same, except 
the commanders of foreign packets, 2 cents for every such letter or packet. 

Act February 20, 1792, section 19. — Letters and packets to be received and conveyed 
by post, free of postage, under certain restrictions : 
All letters or packets to or from the President of the United States and the Vice-President of 

the United States. 
All letters or packets, not exceeding 2 ounces in weight, to or from Senators, Representatives, 



First postal rates 
iimlcr the Con- 
stitution. 



3 82 



APPENDIX. 



Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House of Representatives, during their actual 
attendance in any session of Congress and twenty days after such session. 
All letters to or from the Secietary of the Treasury, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, 
Comptroller, Register, Auditor, Treasurer, Secretary of State, Secretary of War, 
commissioners for settling accounts between the United States and individual States, 
Postmaster-General, and Assistant Postmaster-General. 
Provided, No person shall frank or enclose any letter or packet not his own ; but 
public letters or packets, from the Treasury Department, may be franked by the Secretary, 
Assistant Secretary, Comptroller, Register, Auditor, or Treasurer. 

Each person shall deliver to post-office every letter or packet inclosed to him for other 
persons, that postage may be charged. 

Act February 20, 1792, section 21. — Printers of newspapers authorized to send one 
paper to every other printer of newspaper in the United States, free of postage, under 
regulatiuns of the Postmaster-General. 

All newspapers conveyed by mail for any distanne not more than 100 miles, 1 cent ; 
and over 100 miles, 1% cents ; if any other matter or thing be inclosed, it is subject to letter 
rates of postage. 

Act February 20, 1792, section 26. — Postmaster-General to make provision for receipt 
of letters and packets, to be conveyed beyond the sea, or from one port to another in the 
United States ; and for every letter so received, a postage of 1 cent shall be paid. 

Act May S, 1794. — To take effect June 1, 1794, without limit as to time. Establishes 
General post office a General Post Office. Sections 9, 10, and 13 of this act re-enact sections 9, 10, and 13 of 
established. act of February 20, 1792. 

Section 19 of this act re-enacts section 19 of act of February 20, 1792, except that it 
omits the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury and commissioners for settling accounts between 
the United States and individual States, and adds the Commissioner of the Revenue and post- 
masters ; the letters and packets oi post masters not to exceed one half ounce in weight. 
Section 26 of this act re-enacts section 26 of act of February 20, 1792. 
Act December 3, 1794.— Confers franking privilege on James White, delegate to Con- 
gress from the territory of the United States south of the river Ohio. 

Act February 25, 1795. — Confers franking privilege on purveyor of public supplies, as 
to letters to or from. 

Act March 3, 1797. — That all letters or packets to George Washington, now Presi- 
Franking privilege dent of the United States, after the expiration of his term of office, and during his life, shall 

conferred on be received and conveyed by post free of postage. 
George Washington. Act June 22, 1798. — Extends the privilege of franking letters and packets to the 

Secretary of the Navy, under like restrictions and limitation as are provided in the act May 8, 
1794, section 19. 

Act March 2 1799, section 7. — Establishes a General Post-Office at the seat of gov- 
ernment of the United States. 

For every letter composed of a single sheet of paper conveyed not exceeding 40 miles, 
8 cents ; over 40 miles and not exceeding 90 miles, 10 cents ; over 90 miles and not exceed- 
ing 130 miles, 12^ cents ; over 150 miles and not exceeding 300 miles, 17 cents ; over 300 
miles and not exceeding 500 miles, 20 cents ; over 500 miles, 25 cents. 
Double letters or two pieces of paper, double rates. 

Triple letter or three pieces of paper, triple rates ; and for every packet composed of 
four or moie pieces of paper, or other thing, and weighing 1 ounce avoirdupois, quadruple 
rate, and in same proportion for greater weights : Provided, No packet of letters conveyed 
by the water-mails shall be charged more than quadruple postage, unless containing more 
than four distinct letters ; no package to be received weighing more than 3 pounds. 

Act March 2, 1799, section 8. — Eveiy packet or letter brought in the United States, or 
carried from one part to another in private ship or vessel, 6 cents, if delivered in office where 
received ; if to be conveyed by post, 2 cents added to ordinary postage. 

Act March 2, 1799, section n. — Authorizes postmasters to whom letters may be deliv- 
ered by masters or commanders of any ship or vessel arriving at any port within the United 
States, where a post-office is established, except foreign packets, to pay 2 cents for each letter 
or packet. 

Act March 2, 1799, section 13. — Postmasters authorized to pay mail-carriers 1 cent for 
Carriers' fees. each way-letter delivered to them, also mail-carriers authorized to demand and receive 2 
cents in addition to the rdinary postage, for every letter delivered by them to persons living 
between post-offices on their route. 

Act March 2, 1799, section 17. — Letters and packets to be conveyed free to and from 
the following : 

Postmasters— not exceeding one-half ounce in weight. 

Senators, Representatives, Secretary of the Senate, Clerk of the House — not exceeding 2 

ounces in weight, during actual attendance in any session of Congress, and twenty 

days after such session. 

All letters and packets to and from the President of the United States, Vice-President of the 

United States, Secretary of the Treasury, Comptroller of the Treasury, Auditor of the 



APPENDIX. 383 

Treasury, Register of the Treasury, Treasurer of the United States, Commissioner of 

the Revenue, supervisors of the revenue, inspectors of the revenue, Commissioners, 

Purveyor, Secretary of War, accountant of War Office, Secretary of State, Secretary 

of Navy, accountant of Navy, Postmaster-General, and Assistant Postmaster-General. 

All may receive their newspapers free of postage. Provided, Senators, Representatives, 
Secretary of Senate, and Clerk of the House shall receive newspapers free during session of 
Congress and twenty days after. 

Letters or packets from any public officer to be franked by person sending. 

All letters and packets to and from George Washington, late President, to be received 
and conveyed free. 

Act March 2, 1799, section rc>. — Re-enacts section 21 of act February 20, 1792. 

Act March 2, 1709, section 20. — Fixes postage on newspapers at I cent each for not 
more than 100 m les, and \]/ z cents for any greater distance Single newspapers from one 
place to another in the same State shall not exceed r cent. 

Concealing a letter, or other thing, or any memorandum in writing in a newspaper, 
subjects each article in packet to a single-letter postage. 

Magazines and pamphlets, 1 cent a sheet, for not exceeding 50 miles; \]/ 2 cents for 
over 50 miles, and not exceeding 100 miles; and 2 cents for any greater distance. 

Act March 2, 1799, section 25. — Postmastei -General authorized to provide for receipt 
of letters or packets, to be conveyed by sea to any foreign port or home port. Every letter 
or packet so received, subject to a postage of 1 cent 

Act January 2, 1800, section 1. — Confers franking privilege on William Henry Harrison, 
delegate to Congress from territory northwest of the Ohio River, to send and receive letters 
free of postage. 

Act April 3, 1800.— Confers franking privilege upon Martha Washington, to send and 
receive letters and packages free of postage during her life. 

Act December 15, 1800, section 1.— Confers franking privilege on delegate from terri- 
tory northwest of the Ohio River, to send and receive letters free of postage. 

Act February 25, 1801.— Confers franking privilege on John Adams, President of the 
United States, after the expiration of his term of office, and during his life, on all letters and 
packets to him. 

Act February 18, 1802. — Confers privilege of franking and receiving letters free of 
postage to any person admitted, or to be admitted, to take a seat in Congress as a delegate. 

Act A lay 3, 1802, section 4, vol. 2, page 19c. — None but free white persons shall be 
employed in carrying the mails. 

Act May 3, 1802, section 5. — Franking privilege extended to the Attorney-General, 
to send and receive all letters, packets, and newspapers free of postage. 

Act March 26, 1804, section 3. — Letters, returns, and other papers on public service, 
sent by mail to or from offices of inspector and paymaster of the army, to be received and 
conveyed free of postage. 

Act June 28, 1809. — Letters and packets from Thomas Jefferson, late President of the 
United States, to be received and conveyed by post free of postage during his life. 

Act April 30, i8to, section r, vol. 2. page 592. — Establishes a General Post-Office at 
the seat of Government. Postmaster-General shall appoint two Assistant Postmasters- 
General. 

Ad April 30, 1810, section ii. — Rates of postage on letters and packets : 

Single sheet of paper — Cents. 

Less than 40 miles 8 

40 to 90 miles 10 

90 to 150 miles I2j£ 

150 to 300 miles , 17 

300 to 500 miles 20 

Over 500 miles 25 

Double letters or two pieces of paper, double rates; triple letters or three pieces of 
paper, triple rates; every packet composed of four or more pieces of paper or other thing, 
and weighing 1 ounce avoirdupois, quadruple rate; and in same proportion for greater weight: 
Provided, No packet of letters ^conveyed by the water-mails shall be charged more than 
quadruple postage, unless containing more than four distinct letters. Weight of packet 
limited to 3 pounds. 

Act April 30, 1810, section 12. — Letters or packets brought into the United States, or 
carried from one port therein to another, shall be charged 6 cents, if delivered at the post- 
office where the same shall arrive; and if to be conveyed by post to any other place, with 
2 cents added to the ordinary rates of p stage. 

Act April 30, 1810, section 15. — Postmasters authorized, on the receipt of letters from 
any ship or vessel arriving at any port within the United States where a post-office is estab- 
lished, to pay to the master, commander, or other person delivering the same, except the 
commanders of foreign packets, 2 cents for every letter or packet. 

Act April jo, 1810, section 17. — Postmasters authorized to pay mail-carrier I cent for 



384 



APPENDIX. 



every letter brought into their offices; also mail-carrier authorized to demand and receive 2 
cents in addition to the ordinary postage, for every letter delivered by him to persons living 
between post-offices on his route. 

Act April 30, 1810, section 19. — Provides that any person convicted of robbing the 
Death penalty for mail shall be sentenced to ten years' imprisonment, and upon conviction a second time for 
robbing the mail, such offense, shall be punished with death. 

Act April 30, 1810, section 24. — Letters ard packets to and from the following officers 
of the United States to be received and conveyed through the mails free of postage : 

Postmasters, not exceeding one-half ounce in weight. 
Senators, Members, Delegates, Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House, limited 
to 2 ounces in weight, and during their actual attendance in any session of Congress 
and twenty days thereafter; excess of weight to be paid for 
All letters and packets to and from the President of the United States, Vice-President of 
the United States, Secretary of State, Secretary of Treasury, Secretary of War, 
Secretary of the Navy, Attorney-General. Comptroller, Treasurer, Auditor, Register, 
supervisor of direct tax of district of South Carolina, superintendent of Indian trade, 
purveyor, inspector and paymaster of the army, accountants of War and Navy 
Departments, Postmaster-General, Assistant Postmasters-General, John Adams, and 
Thomas Jefferson. 
All may receive their newspapers free of postage 

Senators, Representatives, Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House of Repre- 
sentatives shall receive their newspapers free of postage only during any session of Congress 
and twenty days thereafter. 

Act April 30, 1810, section 25. — Secretaries of the Treasury, State, War, Navy, and 
Postmaster-General authorized to frank letters or packets on official business, prepared in any 
other public office, in the absence of the principal therof. 

Act April 30, 1810, section 26. — Printers of newspapers authorized to exchange one 
copy free of newspapers, under regulations of the Postmaster-General. 

Act April jo, 1810, section 27. — Newspapers by mail, 1 cent each for not more than 
100 miles; \ l / z cents for any greater distance. Single newspapers, from one place to another 
in the same State, not to exceed 1 cent. 

Act April 30, 1810, section 32. — Postmaster-General authorized to provide for the 
receipt and transmission of leters and packets beyond sea, or from any port in the United 
States to any other port therein; every letter or packet so received subject to a postage of 
1 cent. 

Act April 30, 1810, section 34. — Drop or local letters, 1 cent each. 
Act April 30, 1810, section 39. — Adjutant-genetal of the militia of each State and 
Territory has the right to receive by mail, free of postage, from any major or brigadier- 
general thereof, and to transmit to said generals, any letter or packet relating solely to the 
militia of such State or Territory, under certain restrictions. 

Act April 18, 1814, section 4. — Secretary of State authorized to transmit by mail, free of 
postage, one copy of documents ordered to be printed by either House of Congress— namely, 
Public documents of communications, with accompanying documents, made by the President to Congress or 
to be carried free, either House thereof; of reports made by the Secretary of State, Treasury, War, Navy, 
Postmaster-General, or commissioners of the sinking-fund, to Congress, or either House 
thereof, in pursuance of any law or resolution of either House; affirmative reports on subjects 
of a general nature made to Congress, or either House thereof, by any committee, respectively 
— for each of the judges of the Supreme Court, of the district courts, and of the Territories 
of the United States, to any post-office within the United States they may respectively 
designate 

Act December 23, 1814, section 2 — From and after February 1, 1815, there shall be 
added to the rates of postage established by law 50 per centum on the amount of such rates 
respectively. 

Act February I, 1816. — Repeals so much of act of December 23, 1814, as imposes 50 
per centum additional postage. 

Act April 9, 1816, section 1. — Rates of postage after May 1, 1816 : 

Every letter o mposed of a single sheet of paper — Cents. 

Less than 30 miles 6 

Over 30 miles and not exceeding 80 miles 10 

Over 80 miles and not exceeding 150 miles 12^ 

Over 150 miles and not exceeding 400 miles i8>£ 

Over 400 miles 25 

Every double letter or two pieces of paper, double rates. 

Every triple letter or three pieces of paper, triple rates. 

Every packet containing four or more pieces of paper or one or more other articles, 
and weighing one ounce avoirdupois, quadruple these rates, and in that proportion for all 
greater rates. No packet of letters conveyed by water-mails to be charged with more than 
quadruple postage, unless the same shall contain more than four distinct letters. 



APPENDIX. 385 

Any memorandum written on a newspaper or other printed paper, and transmitted Ly 
mail, to be charged witli letter postage. 

Act April 9, 1816, section 3. — Letters and packets to and from Senators, Members, and 
Delegates of the House, Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House, to be conveyed 
free of postage for thirty days previous to each session of Congress and for thirty days alter 
the termination thereof; limited to 2 ounces in weight; excess to be paid for. 

Act March I, 1817. — Letters and packets to and from James Madison, Piesident of the 
United States, after the expiration of his term of office and during his life, to be carried by 
mail free of postage. 

Act March 13, 1820. — Letters and packets to and from the President of the Senate 
pro tempore, and Speaker of the House for the time being, to be received and conveyed by 
mail, free of postage, during the session of Congress, under certain restrictions. 

Act March 3, 1825. — An act to reduce into one the several acts establishing and reg- 
ulating the Post-Office Department. 

Section I establishes at the seat of government a general post-office, under the direction Various Acts of 
of the Postmaster-General. Congress reduced 

Act March 3, 1825, section 5. — Authorizes the Postmaster General to have mail carried into one. 

by any steamboat or other vessel which shall be used as a packet in any waters of the United 
States, on such terms and conditions as shall be considered expedient : Provided, That he 
does not pay more than 3 cents for each letter, nor more than one-half a cent for each news- 
paper. 

Act March 3, 1825, section 6 — Master or manager of any steamboat passing from one 
port or place to another port or place in the United States, where a post-office is established, 
to deliver all letters or packets addressed to such port or place to the postmaster there, for 
which he shall receive of such postmaster 2 cents for every letter or packet so delivered, un- 
less the same shall be conveyed under contract with the Postmaster-General. 

Act March 3, 1825, section 7. — No other than a free white person shall be employed 
in conveying the mail ; and any contractor who shall employ or permit any other than a 
free white person to convey the mail shall for every such offense incur a penalty of $20. 

Act March 3, 1825, section 13. — Rates of postage on letters and packets conyed in the 
mail of the United States : 

For every letter of a single sheet of paper conveyed — Cents 

Not exceeding 30 miles 6 

Over 30 miles and not exceeding 80 miles 10 

Over 80 miles and not exceeding 150 miles I2>£ 

Over 150 miles and not exceeding 400 miles 18%" 

Over 400 miles 25 

Every double letter or two pieces of paper, double these rates ; every triple letter or 
three pieces of paper, triple these rates ; evt ry packet of four or more pieces of paper, or one 
or more other articles, and weighing 1 ounce avoirdupois, quadruple these rates ; and in that 
proportion for all greater weights : Provided, That no packet of letters conveyed by the 
water-mails sha 1 be charged more than quadruple postage, unless the same shall contain 
more than four distinct letters ; weight of packet limited to 3 pounds. 

Unbound journals of legislatures of the several States liable to same postage as 
pamphlets. 

Memorandum written on a newspaper or other printed paper, pamphlet, or magazine, 
and transmitted by mail, to be charged with letter postage. 

Act March 3, 1825, section 15. — Every letter or package brought into the United 
States, or carried from one point therein to another, in any private ship or vessel, to be 
charged 6 cents, if delivered at the post-office where the same shall arrive ; and if destined to 
be conveyed by post to any other place, with 2 cents added to the ordinary rates of postage. 

Act March 3, 1825, sec/ion 18. — Postmasters authorized to pay to the master or com- 
mander of any vessel, except the commanders of foreign packets, arriving at any port in the 
United States where a post-office is established, 2 cents for every letter or packet delivered 
by him to the postmaster. 

Act March 3, 1825, section 27. — Letters and packets to be conveyed by post free of 
postage to and from the following : 
Postmasters — limited to one-half ounce in weight. 
Members, Senators, Delegates, Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House — limited to 

2 ounces in weight (except documents printed by order of either House of Congress), 

and during their actual attendance in any session of Congress and sixty days before 

and after ; excess of weight to be paid for. 
All letters and packets to and from the President of the United States, Vice-President of the 

United States, Secretary of State, Secretary of War, Secretary of Treasury, Secretary 

of Navy, Attorney-General, Postmaster-General, Assistant Postmasters-General, 

Comptrollers of Treasury, Auditors of Treasury, Register, Treasurer, Commissioner 

General Land Offics, ex-Presidents and Piesident of the United States 

All of the above to receive newspapers free of postage : Provided, That postmasters 



386 APPENDIX. 

shall not receive free of postage more than one daily newspaper each, or what is equivalent 
thereto ; nor shall members of the Senate or House, Clerk of the House, or Secretary of the 
Senate receive newspapers free of postage after their franking privilege shall cease. 

Act March 3, 1825. section 28. — Secretaries of Treasury, State, War, Navy, and the 
Postmaster-General may frank letters and packets on official business prepared in any other 
public office in the absence of the principal thereof. 

Act March 3, 1825, section 29. — Printers of newspapers authorized to exchange one 
paper free of postage, under regulations by Postmaster-General. 

Act March 3, 1825, section 30. — Newspapers conveyed by mail, 1 cent for any dis- 
tance not more than 100 miles ; 1 '/£ cents for any greater distance. Single newspapers from 
one place to another in the same State, 1 cent. 

Inclosing or concealing a letter or other thing, or any memorandum in writing, in a 
newspaper, pamphlet, or magazine, subjects it to single letter postage for each article of 
which the package is composed. 

When mode of conveyance and size of mail will admit, magazines and pamphlets 
published periodically may be transported in the mail to subscribers, at 1%. cents a sheet for 
Size of a sheet an y distance not exceeding 100 miles, and 2% cents for any greater distance And such 
defined. magazines and pamphlets as are not published periodically, if sent in the mail, shall be 

charged 4 cents on each sheet for any distance not exceeding 100 miles, and 6 cents for any 
greater distance. (Section 13 of this act defines a sheet to be four folio pages, 8 quarto pages, 
16 octavo pages, or 24 duodecimo pages, or pages less than that of a pamphlet size or 
magazine, whatever be the size of the paper of which it is formed. The surplus pages of 
any pamphlet or magazine shall also be considered a sheet.) 

Act March 3, 1825, section 34. — Postmaster-General authorized to make provision for 
the receipt of letters and packets to be conveyed by any vessel beyond sea, or from one port 
to another in the United States ; and the postmaster receiving the same at the port to which 
such vessel shall be bound shall be entitled to a postage of 1 cent on each letter or packet 
received. 

Act March 3, 1825, section 36 — Drop or local letters delivered at the post-office, 
1 cent each. 

Act March 3, 182s, section }6. — Authorizes the Postmaster-General to employ letter- 
carriers at such post-offices as he may designate, for the delivery of letters ; and the carrier 
may receive from the person to whom the letter is delivered 2 cents. 

Act March 3, 1825, section 40. — The adjutant-general of the militia of each State and 
Territory authorized to receive by mail, free of postage, from any major-general or brigadier- 
general thereof, and to transmit to' said generals, any letter or packet relating solely to the 
militia of such State or Territory, under certain conditions. 

Act March 3, 1825, section 46. — Repeals all acts and parts of acts which have been 
passed for the establishment and regulation of the general post-office. 

At t March 2, 1827. — Increases the salary of the Postmaster-General $2,000 over the 
present amount. 

Act March 2, 1827, section 2. — One cent to be allowed each postmaster for every let- 
ter received from any ship or vessel and mailed by him. 

Act March 2, 1827, section 4. — Authority to frank and receive letters and packets free 
of postage extended to the commissioners of the navy-board, Adjutant-General, Commissary- 
General, Inspector General, Quartermaster-General, Paymaster-General, Secretary of the 
Senate, Clerk of the House, Superintendent of the Patent- Office. 

No other person or officer except those enumerated herein and in the act of March 3, 
1825, shall be authorized to frank or receive letters by mail free of postage. 

Act March 2, 1827, section 5. — One or more pieces of paper mailed as a letter and 
weighing 1 ounce avoirdupois, shall be charged with quadruple postage, and at the same 
rate should the weight be greater. Packages containing four pieces of paper, quadruple rates. 

Every printed pamphlet or magazine containing more than twenty-four pages on a 
royal sheet, or any sheet of less dimensions, shall be charged by the sheet ; and small 
pamphlets printed on a half or quarter sheet of royal, or less size shall be charged with one- 
half the amount of postage on a full sheet. Double postage shall be chaiged, unless there 
shall be printed or written on one of the outer pages of all pamphlets and magazines the 
number of sheets they contain. 

Act June 30, 1834. — Governors of the several States authorized to transmit by mail, 
free of postage, all laws and reports, bound or unbound, and all records and documents of 
their respective States, which may be directed by the several legislatures of the States to be 
transmitted to the executives of other States. 

Act July 2, 1836. section 8. — President authorized to appoint an Auditor of the Treas- 
ury for the Post-Office Department, who is authorized to frank and receive, free of postage, 
letters and packets, under regulations provided by law for other officers of the government. 

Act July 2, 1836, section 8. — All letters or packets to or from the Chief Engineer, 
which may relate to the business of his office, free of postage. 

Act July 2, 1836, section 20. — Postmaster-General authorized to employ a Third Assis- 
tant Postmaster-General, who may receive and send letters free of postage. 



APPENDIX. 



387 



ltallroadx declared 
to be post-roads. 



Act July 2, 1836, section 36. — No postmaster shall receive free of postage or frank any 
letter or packet composed of or containing anything other than money or paper. 

All letters and packets to and from Dolly P. Madison, relict of the late James Madison, 
shall be received and conveyed by post free of postage for and during her life 

Act July 4, 1836, section 1.— Patent-Office established and the Commissioner entitled 
to receive and send letters and packages by mail relating to the business of his office free of 
postage. 

Act July 7, 1838. — Every railroad built or to be built declared a post-road, over which 
the Postmaster-General shall cause the mails to be transported, if the cost thereof be not 
more than 25 per cent, over the cost of similar service in post-coaches. 

Act January 25, 1839 — Postmaster General not to allow to any railroad company for 
carrying the mails more than $300 per mile per annum. 

Act September 9, 184c — All letters and packets carried by post to Mrs. Harrison, 
relict of the late William Henry Harrison, to be conveyed free of postage during her life. 

Act January 20, 1843, section 3. — Commissioner of Pensions authorized to send and 
receive letters and packets by mail free of postage. 

Act February 15, 1843, section 1. — Authorizes the chief clerk of the office of Secretary 
of State to frank all public and official documents sent from that office. 

Act March 3, 1843. — Appropriation for testing the capacity and usefulness of the mag- 
netic telegraph by constructing a line of telegraphs between such points as will determine its Magnetic telegraph. 
practicability. [Under this act a line of telegraphs was constructed by the Government 
between Washington and Baltimore.] 

Act March 3, 1845, section 1, vol. 5, page 732 — After July I, 184s, Members of Con- 
gress and Delegates from Territories may receive letters not exceeding 2 ounces in weight 
free of postage during the recess of Congress, anything to the contrary in this act notwith- 
standing; and the same franking privilege which is granted by this act to the members of 
the two houses of Congress is hereby extended to the Vice-President of the United States. 

Postage on letters. — For every single letter in manuscript, or marks and signs by mail, 
under 300 miles, 5 cents, over 300 miles, 10 cents; double letter, double rates; treble letter, 
treble rates; quadruple letter, quadruple rates; and every letter or parcel not exceeding one- 
half ounce in weight shall be deemed a single letter, and every additional weight of one- 
half ounce or less shall be charged with an additional single postage. Drop or local letters 
shall be charged a, postage rate of 2 cents each. 

Act March 3, 1845, section 2. — Postage on newspapers.— Newspapers of not more than 
1,900 square inches in size may be transmitted through the mails by the editors or publishers 
thereof to subscribers or other persons, within 30 miles of the city, town, or place in which 
the paper is printed, free of postage. Newspapers of less size, conveyed by mail beyond 30 
miles from the place at which they are printed, shall be subject to the rates of postage 
chargeable under the thirtieth section, act March 3, 1825 Newspapers of greater size than 
1,900 square inches subject to same rates of postage as are prescribed by this act on maga- 
zines and pamphlets. 

Act March 3, 1845, section 3. — Printed or lithograph circulars, hand-bills, or adver- 
tisements, printed or lithographed on quarto-post or single-cap paper, or paper not larger 
than single-cap paper, unsealed, shall be charged with postage at the rate of 2 cents for each 
sheet, without regard to distance. Pamphlets, magazines, periodicals, and all other printed 
or other matter (except newspapers) unconnected with any writing, shall be charged with 
postage at the rate of 2^ cents for each copy sent, not exceeding 1 ounce in weight, and 1 
cent additional for each additional ounce, without regard to distance; and any fractional 
excess of not less than one-half ounce above 1 or more ounces shall be charged for as if said 
excess amounted to a full ounce 

Bound books not to be admitted under foregoing provisions. 

Act March 3, 184s, section 5.— Repeals all acts and parts of acts conferring upon any 
person the right or privilege to receive and transmit through the mail free of postage letters, 
packets, newspapers, periodicals, or other matter. 

Act March 3, 1845, section 6. — All officers of the government of the United States, 
heretofore having the franking privilege, shall be allowed and paid quarterly all postage on 
official letters, packages, or other matter received by mail. 

Postage upon official letters, packages, or other matter received by the three Assistant 
Postmasters-General shall be remitted, and they shall be authorized to transmit by mail free 
of postage official letters, packages, or other matter under certain regulations. 

Deputy postmasters allowed all postage which they may have paid or have had 
charged to them for official letters, packages, or other matters, and they are authorized to 
send by mail free of postage official letters and packets, under certain regulations. 

Act Match 3, 1845, section 7. — Continues in force act of June 30, 1834, authorizing 
the governors of the several States to transmit by mail certain books and documents, and 
authorizes Members and Delegates, Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House to trans- 
mit by mail free of postage any documents printed by order of either house of Congress. 

Act March 3, 1845, section 8. — Senators, Members, Delegates, Secretary of Senate, and 
Clerk of the House, authorized, during each session of Congress and for thirty days before 



New regulations con- 
cerning franking. 



388 



APPENDIX. 



Mailable matter 
defined. 



Newspapers defined. 



Telegraph receipts 

credited to the 
P. 0. Department. 



and after every session of Congress, to send and receive through the mail free of postage any 
letter, newspaper, or packet, not exceeding 2 ounces in weight. Postage charged for excess 
of weight on official letters, packages, etc., received during any session of Congress, to be 
paid out of the contingent fund of the house of which the person may be a member. 
Authorized to frank written letters from themselves during the whole year, etc. 

Act March 3, 1845. section 13. — Transmission of letters by steamboats, under act of 
March 3. 1825, section 6, not prohibited : Provided, That the requirements of said sixth 
section shall be strictly complied with by the delivery of all letters so conveyed, not 1 elating 
to the cargo or some part thereof, to the postmaster or agent of the Post-Office Department 
at the port to which said letters may be delivered ; and the postmaster or agent shall collect 
upon all letters or other mailable matter so delivered to him, except newspapers, pamphlets, 
magazines, and periodicals, the same rates of postage as would have been charged upon said 
letters had they been transmitted by mail from the port at which they were placed on board 
the steamboat from which they were received ; weight of packet limited to 3 pounds. 

Act Match 3, 184s, section 15. — Mailable matter defined. — Letters, newspapers, maga- 
zines and pamphlets periodically published or published in regular series, or in successive 
numbers, under the same title, though at irregular intervals, and all other written or printed 
matter, whereof each copy or number shall not exceed eight ounces in weight, except bank- 
notes sent in packages or bundles, without written letters accompanying them. Bound books 
not to be included within the meaning of these terms. 

Act March 3, J 845, section 16.— Newspapers defined. — Any printed publication issued 
in numbers, consisting of not more than two sheets and published at short stated intervals of 
not more than one month, conveying intelligence of passing events, and bona-frde extras and 
supplements of any such publication. 

Free exchange of newspapers between publishers, as provided for by act of March 3, 
1825, section 29. not prohibited. 

Act March 3, 184s, section 23. — Franking privilege conferred by former acts on the 
President of the United States when in office, and to all ex-Presidents, and to the widows of 
the former Presidents, Madison and Harrison, continued in force. 

Act March 3. 184s, section 19. volume 5, page 738. — Railroad transporation of the 
mails divided into three classes, with varying rates of compensation therefor. 

Joint resolution of February 20, 184s. — Postmaster-General authorized to contract 
with railroads for carrying the mails without advertising for bids. 

Joint resolution of March 3, 1845. — Provides that act of March 3, 1845, shall go into 
effect on and after July r, 1845. 

Act May 2q, 1846, section 3. — Same rates of postage to be charged in Texas as in other 
States of the United State . 

Act June 19, 1846 — Appropriation made for defraying expenses of magnetic telegraph 
from Washington to Baltimore: "Provided, That the Postmaster- General be, and he is 
hereby, authorized to let, for a limited time, the aforesaid telegraph to any person who will 
keep it in operation for its earnings ; or he may, under the direction of the President of the 
United States, sell the same." 

Act August 10, 1846. —"That the procetds of the telegraph between Washington 
City and Baltimore be, and the same are hereby, dm cted to be placed in the Treasury of the 
United States, for the benefit of the Post-Office Department, in the same manner as other- 
revenues from postages." 

Act August 6, 1846, section 18 —On and after January r, 1847, postage shall be paid 
in gold and silver only, or in Treasury notes of the United States. 

Act March I, 1847, section ). — Members and Delegates in Congress, Vice President of 
the United States. Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House, to have power to send 
and receive public documents during their term of office and up to the first Monday of 
December following the expiration of their term of office. 

Act March 1, 1847, section 4. — Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House to 
receive and send all letters and packages fiee of postage during their term of office ; limited 
10 two ounces. 

Act March 1, 1847, section 5. — Members of Congress to receive and send all letters 
and packages free of postage, up to the first Monday in December following the expiration 
of their term of office. 

Act Match 2, 1847, stction 1. — Every postmaster whose compensation for the last pre- 
ceding year did not exceed $200 to send all letters written by himself and receive all addressed 
to himself, on his private business, free of postage ; limited to one-half ounce in weight. 

Act March 3, 1847, section 4 —Letters, newspapers, and packets, not exceeding one 
ounce in weight, directed to any officer, musician, or private of the army of the United 
States in Mexico, or at any place on the frontier of the United States bordering on Mexico, 
shall be conveyed in the mail free of postage 

Act March 3, 1847, section 5. — Continues in force section 4 of this act during the 
present war and three months thereafter. 

Act March 3, 1847, section 7 — Postmaster-General authorized to establish a 
office at Astoria, and other places on the Pacific. 



post- 



APPENDIX. 



3% 



All letters conveyed to or from Chagres 20 

All letters conveyed to or from Havana 12^ 

All letters conveyed to or from Panama 30 

All letters conveyed to or from Astoria 40 

All letters conveyed to or from any other place on the Pacific 40 

Act March 3, 1847, section 11 — Authorizes the Postmaster-Qeneral to prepare postage- Postage stamps 
stamps, which, when attached to any letter or packet, shall be evidence of 'the payment of postage first authorized. 
chargeable therefor. 

Act March 3, 1847, section 12. — Repeals so much of section 6 of act March 3, 1845, 
as requires postage to be paid on free matter from the contingent fund of the two Houses of 
Congress and the other departments of the government, and in lieu thereof provides for an 
annual appropriation of $200,000, to be paid to the Post-Office Department. 

Act March 3, 1847, section 13. — Newspapers by mail (except exchanges between 
publisheis), except such as are franked by those enjoying the franking privilege, and newspapers 
not sent from the office of publication, and handbills or circulars printed or lithographed, not 
exceeding one sheet, shall be subject to 3 cents prepaid postage each. Postmaster-General 
authorized to pay not exceeding 2 cents each for all letters or packets conveyed in any vessel 
not employed in carrying the mail from one place to another in the United States, under 
such regulations as he may provide. 

Publications or books published, procured, or purchased by either House of Congress 
shall be considered public documents and entitled to be franked as such. 

Act March 3, 1847, section 14 — Repeals so much of act of March 3, 1845, and of all 
other acts relating to the Post Office Department, as is inconsistent with this act. 

Act March 9, 1848.— Letters and packets by mail to and from Louisa Catherine Adams, 
widow of the late John Quincy Adams, to be free of postage during her life. 

Act May 27, 1848, section A,. — Commissioner of Patents authorized to send by mail 
free of postage the annual reports of the Patent Office 

Act June 27, [848, section 1. — Postmaster-General authorized to charge and collect 
upon all letters and other mailable matter carried in foreign packets the same rate of postage 
which the governments to which such foreign packets belong impose upon letters, etc., 
carried in American packets. 

Act June 27, 1848, section 2 — All letters and other mailable matter conveyed by any 
foreign ship to or from any port of the United States, to be subject to postage charged as in 
above section, except letters relating to the vessel or cargo. 

Act August 14, 1848, section 3. — Postmaster General authorized to establish a post- 
office at San Diego, Monterey, San Francisco, and other places on the Pacific, in California, 
and all letters conveyed to or from any of the above places on the Pacific, from or to any 
place on the Atlantic, to be charged 40 cents postage ; all letters conveyed from one to any 
other of said places on the Pacific, 12^ cents. 

Act March 3. 1849, section 1. — Rates on letters transported under the postal treaty 
with Great Britain : 

Letters not exceeding one-half ounce, one rate of postage. 

Letters exceeding one-half ounce avoirdupois, and not exceeding 1 ounce, two rates 
of postage. 

Letters exceeding 1 ounce avoirdupois, and not exceeding 2 ounces, four rates of 
postage. 

Letters exceeding 2 ounces avoirdupois, and not exceeding 3 ounces, six rates of 
postage. 

Letters exceeding 3 ounces avoirdupois, and not exceeding 4 ounces, eight rates of 
postage. 

And in like progression for each additional ounce or fraction of an ounce. News- 
papers not sent from the office of publication to be charged with the same rates of postage 
as other papers ; to be prepaid. 

Act January 10, 1850.— Franking privilege granted to Sarah Polk, relict of the late 
James K. Polk, during her life ; to cover all letters and packages to and from. 

Act May 23, 1850, section 17. — Marshals and their assistants authorized to transmit 
papers and documents relating to the census through the post-office free. 

Act March 23, 1850, section 19. — Secretary of the Interior required to appoint a clerk 
to superintend the census, who shall have the privilege of franking and receiving free of 
charge all official documents and letters connected therewith. 

Act July 18, 1850. — Franking privilege granted to Margaret Smith Taylor, relict of 
Zachary Taylor, same as granted to widows of deceased Presidents. 

Act September 27, 1850. — Third section act of August 14, 1848, extended to Territories 
of Utah and New Mexico, and Postmaster-General authorized to establish such rates of post- 
age in said Territories as may to him seem proper, not to exceed those authorized in said act. 
Act March 3, 1851, section 1. — Rates of postage on letters. — From and after June 30, 
1851, in lieu of rates of postage now fixed by law, there shall be charged the following rates : Reduced rates ou 
Every single letter, in writing, marks, or signs, by mails, not exceeding 3,000 miles, prepaid prepaid letters, 
postage, 3 cents ; not prepaid, 5 cents ; for any greater distance, double these rates. 



39° 



APPENDIX. 



Every single letter or paper conveyed wholly or in part by sea, and to or from a 
foreign country over 2,500 miles, 20 cents ; under 2,500 miles, 10 cents (excepting rates 
fixed by postal treaty); double letter, double rates ; triple letter, triple rates ; and every 
letter or parcel not exceeding one-half ounce in weight shall be deemed a single letter, and 
every additional weight of one-half ounce or less shall be charged with an additional rate. 
Drop or local letters, 1 cent each. Letters uncalled for and advertised, to be charged 1 cent 
in addition to the regular postage. 

Act March 3, 185 1, section 2. — Newspaper not exceeding 3 ounces in weight sent from 
the office of publication to bona fide subscribers shall be charged with postage as follows : 

Weekly newspapers free, within the county where published ; and for not exceeding 
50 miles out of the county where published, 5 cents per quarter ; exceeding 50 miles, and not 
exceeding 300 miles, 10 cents per quarter; exceeding 300 miles, and not exceeding 1,000 
miles, 15 cents per quarter ; exceeding 1,000 miles, and not exceeding 2,000 miles, 20 cents 
per quarter ; exceeding 2,000 miles, and not exceeding 4,000 miles, 25 cents per quarter ; 
exceeding 4,000 miles, 30 cents per quarter. 

Newspaper published monthly, sent to bona fide subscribers, one-quarter of the fore- 
going rates; published semi-monthly, one- half of the foregoing rates; published semi- 
weekly, double the foregoing rates ; published tri-weekly, treble the foregoing rates ; and 
oftener than tri-weekly, five times the foregoing rates. On other papers, unsealed circulars, 
handbills, engravings, pamphlets, periodicals, magazines, books, and all other printed 
matter, unconnected with written matter, of not more than one ounce in weight, and not 
exceeding 500 miles, one cent ; and for each additional ounce or fraction thereof, one cent ; 
exceeding 500 miles, and not exceeding 1,500 miles, double these rates; exceeding 1,500 
miles, and not exceeding 2,500 miles, treble these rates ; exceeding 2,500 miles, and not 
exceeding 3,500 miles, four times these rates ; exceeding 3,500 miles, five times these rates. 

Subscribers to periodicals required to pay one quarter's postage in advance ; postage 
one half the toregoing rates. 

Bound books and parcels of printed matter, not over thirty ounces, made mailable 
matter. 

Postage on piinted matter, other than newspapers, and periodicals published at 
intervals not exceeding three months and sent from office of publication to bona fide 
subscribers, to be prepaid. 

When printed matter on which postage is required by this section to be prepaid, shall 
be sent without prepayment, the same shall be charged with double the prepaid rate. 

Nothing in this act shall subject to postage any matter exempted from postage by 
existing law. 

Publishers of pamphlets, periodicals, magazines, and newspapers which shall not 
exceed 16 ounces in weight, allowed to interchange their publications free, confined to a 
single copy of each publication. Publishers allowed to inclose in their publications bills for 
subscription without additional postage. Newspapers not containing more than 300 square 
inches may be transmitted to bona fide subscribers at one-fourth the rates fixed by this 
act. 

Act March 3, 1851, section 8. — Provides for the annual appropriation of $500,000 to 
the Post-Office Department for mail service for the two houses of Congress, and other depart- 
ments and officers of the government, in the transportation of free matter. 

Act August 30, 1852, section 1, vol. 10, page 38. — Rates of postage on printed matter. — 
From and after September 30, 1852, postage on all printed matter passing by mail, instead 
of the rates now charged, shall be as follows : Each newspaper, periodical, unsealed circular, 
or other article of printed matter, not exceeding 3 ounces in weight, to any part of the 
United States, 1 cent ; and for every additional ounce or fraction thereof 1 cent additional. 

Postage on any newspapers or periodicals paid quarterly or yearly in advance at the 
office of delivery, or at the office of mailing, one-half of said rates only shall be charged. 

Newspapers and periodicals not weighing over 1 Y 2 ounces, when circulated in the 
State where published, one-half of the rates before mentioned. 

Small newspapers and periodicals, published monthly or oftener, and pamphlets of 
not more than sixteen octavo pages, sent in single packages weighing at least eight ounces to 
one address, and prepaid by postage-stamps affixed, only one-half cent for each ounce or 
fraction of an ounce 

Postage on all transient matter shall be prepaid or charged double the rates first above 
mentioned. 

Act August 30, 1852, section 2. — Postage on bioks. — Books, bound or unbound, not 
weighing more than four pounds, will be deemed mailable matter and subject to postage at 
1 cent an ounce for all distances under 3 000 miles ; 2 cents for all distances over 3,000 
miles ; to which 50 per cent, shall be added unless prepaid. 

Publishers of newspapers and periodicals may exchange free of postage one copy of 
each publication, and may send to actual subscribers, in their publications, bills and receipts 
for the same free. Publishers of weekly newspapers may send to each actual subscriber 
within the county where their papers are printed and published one copy free of postage, 
under certain conditions. 



APPENDIX. 



39 1 



Act August 30, 1852, section 3. — Prescribes certain conditions which if not complied 
with subject printed matter to letter-postage. 

Matter sent by mail from one part of the United States to another, the postage of 
which is not fixed by this act, shall, unless entitled to be sent free, be charged with letter- 
postage. 

Act August 30, 1852, section 5. — Repeals so much of the second section of act of 
March 3, 1851, as relates to the postage or free circulation of newspapers, periodicals, and 
other printed matter, and all other provisions of law inconsistent with this act. 

Act August 31, 1852, section 8, vol. 10, page 141. — Postmaster-General authorized to 
provide stamped letter envelopes. Letters when inclosed in such envelopes (with stamps Stamped envelopes 
thereon equal in amount to the postage to which such letters would be liable if sent by authorized. 
mail) may be sent and delivered otherwise than by mail under certain conditions. 

Act March 3, 1853, section 5. — Assistant Postmasters-General to be in future appointed 
by President and confirmed by Senate. 

Act March 3, 1853. — Increases the salary of the Postmaster-General to $8,000 per 
annum. 

Act February 2, 1854 — The Superintendent of the Coast Survey and the assistant in 
charge ot the Office of the Coast Survey authorized to transmit free of postage, by the mails, 
all letters and documents in relation to their public duties. 

Act March 3, 1855, section 1. — In lieu of the rates of postage now fixed by law, there 
shall be charged the following rates : 

For every single letter, in manuscript or paper of any kind, in writing, marks, or 
signs, conveyed in the mail between places in the United States not exceeding 3,000 miles, 
3 cents ; and for any greater distance, 10 cents ; for a double letter, double rates ; treble Compulsory pre- 
letter, treble rates ; quadruple letter, quadruple rates ; every letter or parcel not exceeding payment of postage. 
one-half ounce in weight shall be deemed a single letter, and every additional weight of one- 
half ounce or less shall be charged an additional rate ; the foregoing rates to be prepaid on 
domestic letters, except on letters and packages to officers of the Government on official 
business, and except on letters to or from a foreign country. 

Postage on drop or local letters, 1 cent each. 

Nothing in this act to alter the laws in relation to the franking privilege. 

The foregoing section was the first provision of law making the prepayment of postage 
on domestic letters compulsory. 

Act March 3, 1855, section 3. — Authorizes the Postmaster-General to establish a system 
for registration of valuable letters, and to require prepayment of postage on such letters, as well First provision for 
as of a registration fee of 5 cents ; the Post- Office Department not to be liable for the loss of registration. 
such letters or packets. 

Act March 5, 1855, section 4. — Franking privilege of Vice-Presidents continued to 
those who have held or shall hold that office, during life. 

Act March 3, 1 855, section 5. — Books, maps, charts, or other publications, entered by 
copyright, and which, under act of August 10. 1846, are required to be deposited in the 
Library of Congress and in the Smithsonian Institution, may be sent by mail free of postage, 
under regulations to be prescribed by the Postmaster-General. 

Act January 2, 1857. — Repeals the provision in the act of August 30, 1852, permit- 
ting transient printed matter to be sent through the mail without prepayment of postage ; 
the postage on all such matter shall be paid by stamps or otherwise, as the Postmaster- 
General may direct. 

Act April 3, i860, section 1. — Modifies second clause, section 3, of act August 30, 
1852, establishing the rates of postage on printed matter, so as to allow only the name, the 
date when the subscription expires, and the address of the person to whom sent. 

Act April 3. i860, section 2. — Postage on drop or local letters delivered by carriers, 
1 cent each. 

Act February 27, 1861, section 1, vol. 12, page 167. — Stamped letter-sheets and news- Stamped letter- 
paper wrappers authorized. sheets and wrappers. 

Act February 27, 1 86 1 , section 8.- That upon all letters returned from the dead-letter 
office there shall be paid the usual rate of postage ; to be paid on delivery. 

Act February 27, 1861, section 9 — That upon every letter or packet brought into the 
United States, or carried from one port therein to another in any private ship or vessel, 
5 cents if delivered at the post-office where the same shall arrive, and if destined to be con- 
veyed by post, 2 cents shall be added to the ordinary postage : Provided, That upon all 
letters or packets conveyed in whole or in part by steamers over any route upon which the 
mail is regularly conveyed in vessels under contract with the Post-Office Department, the 
same charge shall be levied, with the addition of 2 cents a letter or packet on the domestic 
rate. 

Act February 27, [861, section 10.— Repeals all acts or parts of acts inconsistent with 
section 9 of this act. 

Act February 27, 1861, section 12. — That maps, engravings, lithographs, or photo- Transportation of 
graphic prints, on rollers or in paper covers, books, bound or unbound, photographic paper, merchandise in 
and letter envelopes, shall be deemed mailable matter, and charged with postage by weight, the mails. 



392 



APPENDIX. 



i'ony Express. 



Postage stamps as 
currency. 

Letter carriers. 



not to exceed 4 pounds, at the rate of 1 cent an ounce, or fraction of an ounce, to any place 
in the United States under 1,500 miles ; 2 cents an ounce or fraction of an ounce over 1,500 
miles, to be prepaid by postage-stamps. 

Act February 27, 1861, section 13. — That cards, blank or printed, blanks in packages 
weighing at least 8 ounces, and seeds or cuttings in packages not exceeding 8 ounces, shall 
also be deemed mailable matter and charged with postage at the rate of 1 cent an ounce, 
or fraction thereof, to any place in the United States under 1,500 miles, and 2 cents an ounce, 
or fraction thereof, over 1,500 miles, to be prepaid by postage-stamps. 

The foregoing sections were the first provisions of law that authorized the introduction 
of merchandise into the mails. 

Act February 27, 1861, section 14. — Modifies the act of March 3, 1855, so as to 
require the 10-cent rate of postage to be prepaid on letters conveyed in the mail from any 
point in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains to any State or Territory on the 
Pacific, and vice versa. 

Drop-letters shall be prepaid by postage-stamps. 

Act February 27, 1861, section 16. — The postage over the overland route, between 
any State or Territory east of the Rocky Mountains to any State or Territory on the Pacific, 
on each newspaper, periodical, unsealed circular, or other article of printed matter not 
exceeding 3 ounces in weight, shall be 1 cent, and every additional ounce, or fraction thereof, 
1 cent additional. 

Act February 27, 1861, section 17.— Rate of letter-postage between any State or Ter- 
ritory east of the Rocky Mountains and any State or Territory on the Pacific, 10 cents for 
every half ounce. 

Act March 2, 1 86 1 , section 9. — Contractors on overland routes to San Francisco 
required to run a pony-express during the continuance of their contract or until the com- 
pletion of the overland telegraph, at certain times, carrying for the government free of charge 
5 pounds of mail matter, with the liberty of charging the public for transportation of letters 
by said express, not exceeding $1 for one-half ounce ; to commence before the 25th day of 
March, 1862, and expire July 1, 1864. 

Act July 22, 1861, section 1 1. — Letters written by soldiers in the service of the United 
States may be transmitted by mail without prepayment of postage, under regulations of the 
Post-Office Department ; postage to be paid by the party receiving. 

Act July 24, 1861. — Prepaid letters to soldiers in the service of the United States, and 
directed to a point where they have been stationed, may be forwarded without further charge. 

Act January 21, 1802, section 1. — Postmaster-General authorized to return all dead 
letters to writers, except those containing circulars and other worthless matter. Valuable 
letters to be charged treble, and all others double the ordinary rates of postage, to be collected 
from the writers. 

Provisions of act of July 22, 1861, section 11, extended to sailors and marines in the 
service of the United States. 

Act April 16, 1862, section 1. — Postmaster-General authorized to establish branch 
post-offices in cities, and to charge 1 cent in addition to the regular postage for every letter 
deposited in them to be forwarded by mail, to be prepaid by stamps ; and 1 cent for every 
letter delivered at such branch office, to be paid on delivery. 

Act May 15, 1862, section 1. — Establishes the Department of Agriculture. 

Act May 15, 1862, section 2. — Provides for the appointment of a Commissioner of 
Agriculture, and confers franking privilege on said Commiss'oner to send and receive by 
mail free of postage all communications and other matter pertaining to the business of his 
Department ; weight limited to 32 ounces. 

Act July 1, 1862, section 1. — Creates the office of Commissioner of Internal Revenue 
and confers on the Commissioner the privilege of franking all letters and documents pertain- 
ing to the duties of his office, and ot receiving free all such letters and documents. 

Act July 5, 1862, section 6.- Chiefs of the bureaus of the Navy Department authorized 
to frank all communications from their respective bureaus, and all communications to their 
bureaus on the business thereof shall be free of postage. 

Act July 17, 1862. — Postage stamps to be used as currency in sums less than $5. 

Act March 3, 1863, section 11, vol. 12, page 703. — That letter-carriers shall be 
employed at such post-offices as the Postmaster-General shall direct for the delivery of letters 
in the places respectively where such post-offices are established ; and for their services they 
shall severely recive a salary, to be perscribed by the Postmaster-General, not exceeding $800 
per annum. 

Act March}, 1863, section 16 — Postmasters of any office where letter-carriers are 
employed authorized to contract with publishers of newspapers, periodicals, and circulars 
for delivery by carriers of any such publications not received by mail, at rates and terms to 
be agreed upon Contracts have no force until approved by the Postmaster-General. 

Postmaster-General authorized to provide for delivery by carriers of small packets, 
other than letters or papers, and not exceeding the maximum weight of mailable packages ; 
such packages to be prepaid by postage-stamps at the rate of 2 cents for each 4 ounces or 
fraction thereof. 



APPENDIX. 



393 



-Limits weight to 4 pounds, except books published 

First 



Act March 3, 1863, section 16. 
or circulated by order of Congress. 

Act March 3, 1863, section 19. — Divides mailable matter into three classes. 
class letters ; second class, regular printed matter ; third class, miscellaneous matter. 

Act March 3, 1863, section 20. — First class embraces all correspondence wholly or 
partly in writing, except that mentioned in the third class. 

Second class embraces all mailable matter exclusively in print and regularly issued at 
stated periods, without addition by writing, mark, or sign. 

Third class embraces all other matter which is or may hereafter be by law declared 
mailable. 

Act March 3, 1863, section 21. — Fixes the maximum standard weight for the single 
rate of letter-postage at one-half ounce avoirdupois. 

Act March 3, 1863, section 22. — Fixes the rate of postage on domestic letters, not 
exceeding one-half ounce in weight, at 3 cents, and 3 cents additional for each addiiional half- 
ounce or fraction thereof, to be prepaid by postage-stamps affixed. 

Ths was the first law which established a uniform rate of postage on letters 7-egardless 
of distance to which matter was to be transmitted. 

Act March 3, 1863, section 23.— Fixes the rate of postage on drop-letters not exceed- 
ing one-half ounce in weight at 2 cents, and 2 cents added for each additional half-ounce or 
fraction thereof, to be prepaid by postage-stamps affixed ; " but no extra postage or carriers' 
fee shall hereafter be charged or collected upon letters delivered by carriers, nor upon lettets 
collected by them for mailing or delivery." 

Act March 3, 1863. section 24. — Mailable matter wholly or partly in writing, or so 
marked as to convey further information than is conveyed by the original print in case of 
printed matter, or sent in violation of law or regulations touching the inclosure of matter 
which may be sent at less than letter rates, and all matter on which no different rate is 
provided by law, subject to letter postage : Provided, That book-manuscript and corrected 
proof, passing between author and publisher, may pass at the rate of printed matter : 
And provided, That the publishers of newspapers and periodicals may print or write upon 
their publications sent to subscribers the address and the date when the subscription expires, 
and may inclose receipt for payment and bills for subscription. 

Act March 3, 1863, section 25.— All matter not enumerated as mailable, and to which 
no specific rates of postage are assigned, subject to letter postage 

Act March 3, 1863, section 26. — Double rates of postage to be collected on delivery 
on any matter on which postage is required to be prepaid at the mailing office : Provided, 
Such matter reaches its destination without such prepayment. 

Act March 3, 1863, section 27. — Postmaster-General authorized to provide for trans- 
mitting unpaid and duly-certified letters of soldiers, sailors, and marines, and all other letters 
which, from accident, appear to have been deposited without prepayment of postage ; but 
in all cases of letters not prepaid, except certified soldiers' and naval letters, the same shall 
be charged with double rates of postage, to be collected on delivery. 

Act A/arch 3, 1863, section 28. — That when any writer of a letter on which the postage 
is prepaid shall indoise in writing or in print thereon upon the outside thereof his name and 
address with the request that the same be returned to him if not called for or delivered within 
any number of days (not to exceed 30 days), any such letter shall not be advertised nor treated 
as a dead letter, but shall be returned direct, etc. 

By virtue of this law special-request envelopes were subsequently introduced. 

Act March 3, 1863, section 29. — Postage on return dead letters, not registered as valu- 
able, 3 cents for the single rate ; registered as valuable, double iates. 

Act March 3, 1^63, section 30. — Letters may be forwarded from office of destination 
to any other office, with additional charge of postage therefor. 

Act March 3, 1863, section 31. — Postmaster-General authorized to pay 2 cents each 
for all letters conveyed in any vessel not employed in carrying the mail from one place to 
another in the United States, or from any foreign port to any port within the United States 
and deposited in the post-office at the port of arrival. If fot delivery within the United 
States, double rates of postage. 

Act March 3, 1863, section 32.— Provides that fee on registered letters shall not 
exceed 20 cents. 

Act March 3, 1863, section 33. — Fixes the maximum standard rate for the single rate 
of postage on printed matter, and also on miscellaneous matter, at 4 ounces avoirdupois, 
subject to the exception in the next section. 

Act March 3, 1863, section 34. — The rate of postage on transient matter ot the second 
class, and on miscellaneous matter of the third class (except circulars and books), shall be 2 
cents for each 4 ounces or fraction thereof on one package to one address, to be prepaid by 
stamps affixed ; double these rates for books. Unsealed circulars, not exceeding three in 
number, 2 cents, adding one rate for three additional circulars ot less number to one address. 

Act March 3, 1863, section 35. — Postage on matter of the second class, issued once a 
week or more frequently, from a known office of publication, and sent to regular subscribers, 
shall be as follows ; For newspapers and other periodical publications, not exceeding 4 



Uniform rate of 
postage established. 



Carriers' fees 
abolished. 



394 APPENDIX. 

ounces, and passing through the mails or post offices of the United States, the rate for each 
quarter shall be, for publications issued once a week, 5 cents ; twice a week, 10 cents ; thiee 
times a week, 15 cents ; six times a week, 30 cents ; seven times a week, 3s cents ; and in 
that proportion, adding one rate for each issue more frequent than one a week. For weight 
exceeding 4 ounces and not exceeding 8 ounces, an additional rate, and an additional rate for 
each additional 4 ounces or fraction thereof ; postage to be prepaid for not less than one 
quarter nor more than one year, at either the office of mailing or delivery, at the option of 
the subscriber. 

Weekly newspapers, to each subscriber within the county where the same are printed 
and published, one copy free of postage. 

Act March 3, 1&63, section 36 — Postage on mailable matter of the second class, issued 
less freq jently than once a week, from a known office of publication, and sent to subscribers, 
shall be as follows : Upon newspapers, magazines, and other periodical publications, not 
exceeding 4 ounces, passing through the mails or post-offices of the United States, the rate 
for each such paper or periodical shall be 1 cent, and an additional rate of 1 cent for each 
additional 4 ounces or fraction thereof : Provided, That the Postmaster-General may 
provide for the transportation of small newspapers in packages at the same rate by weight 
when sent to one address ; postage must be prepaid at office of mailing or delivery, at option 
of subscriber, for not less than one quarter nor more than one year. 

Act March 3, 1863, section 37. — Publishers may inclose in their publications to sub- 
scribers bills for subscription, and may write or print on their publications or their wrappers 
name and address of subscribers and the date when subscription expires ; but any other 
inclosure or addition in writing or in print shall subject the same to letter postage. 

Act March 3, 1863, section 39 — Postmaster-General authorized to prescribe the 
manner of wrapping all matter not charged with letter postage nor lawfully franked ; if not 
so wrapped and secured, the same shall be subject to letter postage. 

Act March 3, 1863, section 42. — Confers the (ranking privilege upon and limits it to 
the following persons : President of the United States ; Vice-President of the United States ; 
Franking privilege the chiefs of the several executive depaitments ; the heads of bureaus or chief clerks of 
modified. executive departments, to be used only for official communications ; Senators, Representatives, 

and Delegates in Congress, Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House ; to cover cor- 
respondence to and from them, and all printed matter issued by authority of Congress, and 
all speeches, proceedings, and debates in Congress, and all printed matter sent to them ; to 
commence with the term for which they are elected, and to expire on the first Monday in 
December following the expiration of such term ; all official communications to any of the 
executive departments, by an officer responsible to that department, the envelope to be 
marked " official," with the signature of the officer thereon ; postmasters, for their official 
communications to other postmasters, the envelope to be marked " official,'' with the 
signature of the postmaster thereon. 

Petitions to either house of Congress, free. 

The franking privilege granted by this act limited to four ounces, except petitions to 
Congress, congressional or executive documents, and publications or books published, pro- 
cured, or purchased by order of either house of Congress, or joint resolution of both Houses, 
which shall be considered as public documents, and entitled to be franked as such ; and 
except, also, seeds, cuttings, roots, and scions, the weight of packages to be fixed by regula- 
tion of the Postmaster-General. 

Act March 3, 1863, section 43.— Publishers of periodicals, magazines, and newspapers 
allowed to exchange their publications free of postage ; confined to a single copy, and not 
to exceed sixteen ounces in weight. 

This act to take effect June 30, 186 u 

Act March 3, 1863, section 4s. — Repeals all acts and parts of acts inconsistent with 
the provisions of this act. 

Act January 22, 1864. — Clothing of wool, cotton, or linen, in packages not exceeding 
two pounds each, addressed to any non-commissioned officer or private in the Army, may 
be transmitted by mail at the rate of 8 cents for every four ounces or fraction thereof under 
regulations of the Postmaster-General ; postage to be prepaid. 

Act Match 16, 1864 — The franking privilege of the President and Vice-President 
shall extend to and cover all mail-matter sent from or directed to either of them 

Act March 25, 1864, section 4. — Mailable matter conveyed by mail westward of the 
western boundary of Kansas, and eastward of the eastern boundary of California, subject to 
prepaid letter rates, except newspapers sent from a known office of publication to subscribers, 
not exceeding one copy to each, and franked matter to and from the intermediate points be- 
tween the boundaries named, which shall be at the usual rate. 

Act June r, 1864. — Official communications to heads of departments or heads of 
bureaus or chief clerks or one duly authorized by the Postmaster-General to frank official 
matter, shall be received and conveyed by mail free of postage, without being indorsed, 
"official business," or with the name of the writer. 

Acf May 17, 1864, section I. — Authorizes the Postmaster-General to establish a uniform 



APPENDIX. 



395 



money-order system at such post-offices as he may deem suitable therefor, and which 
designated as money-order offices. 

Act May 17, 1864, section 3. — Provides that no money order shall be issued for less 
than $1 or more than $30, and that the fees shall be as follows : Upon an order for $1 and 
not more than $io, 10 cents; upon an order exceeding $10 and not exceeding $20, 15 
cents ; upon an order exceeding $20, 20 cents. 

Act May 17, 1864, section 13. — Provides for the appointment of a Superintendent of 
the Money-Order System. 

Act June 30. 1864, section 1. — The franking privilege to the Commissioner of Internal 
Revenue extended to letters and documents pertaining to the duties of his office and to 
receiving free of postage all such letters and documents. 

Act June 30, 1864 section 3 — Confers on the Deputy Commissioner of Internal 
Revenue the privilege of franking all letters and documents pertaining to the office of internal 
revenue. 

Act July 1, 1864, section 8. — The rates of postage on letters and other mailable matter 
addressed to or received from foreign countries and carried by vessels regularly employed in 
transportation of the mails shall be as follows : Ten cents for one-half ounce or under, on 
letters ; two cents on each newspaper, and the established domestic rates on pamphlets, 
periodicals, and other articles of printed matter ; to be prepaid on matter sent, and collected 
on matter received ; subject to rates established or to be established by international postal 
convention. 

Act January 20, 1865.— Amends section 4 of act March 25, 1864. so as to insert in 
the proviso in said section after the word " newspapers," the words'" periodicals, magazines, 
and exchanges." 

Act March 3, 1865, section 1, vol. 13, page 515. — Chief clerk authorized for each of 
the Assistant Postmasters General, at a salary of $2,000 a year. 

Act March 3, 1865, section 1, vol. 13, page 504. — All domestic letters, except those 
franked and letters of soldiers and sailors, deposited for mailing wholly unpaid, shall be 
sent to the Dead-Letter Office ; those paid only in part to be forwarded to destination and 
unpaid rate collected on delivery. 

Act March 3, 1865, section 20, vol. 13, page 487.— Privilege of franking letters and 
documents pertaining to the duties of the office of internal revenue, and of receiving free of 
postage all such letters and documents, is extended to the Commissioner of that office. 

Act March 3, 1865, section 15, vol 13, page 507. — Fixes the prepaid postage on drop 
letters, at all offices except free delivery, at r cent. 

Act March 3, 1865, section 15, vol. 13, page 507. — System of free delivery shall be 
established at every place having a population of 50,000. 

Act February 10, 1866. — Confers franking privilege on Mary Lincoln, widow of the 
late Abraham Lincoln, to cover all letters and packets by mail to and from 

Act June 12, 1866, section r — Provides for the forwarding of prepaid and free letters 
at the request of the party addressed, from one post-office to another, without additional 
postage and the return of dead letters to the writers free of postage. 

Act June 12, 1866, section 2. — Request letters to be returned to the writers without 
additional postage. 

Act June 12, 1866, section 3.— Forbids the issue of money-orders for any sum over $50 
and fixes the following fees : Upon an order for any sum not exceeding $20, 10 cents ; upon 
an order exceeding $20, 20 cents. 

Act July 13, 1866, section 65.— That all officical communications made by assessors to 
collectors, assessors to assessors, collectors to collectors, collectors to assessors, assessors to 
assistant assessors, assistant assessors to assessors, collectors to their deputies, or deputy 
collectors to collectors, may be officially franked by the writers thereof and transmitted by 
mail free of postage 

Act July 13, 1866, section 66. — Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to appoint a 
special commissioner of the revenue ; and all letters and documents to and from said com- 
missioner relating to the duties and business of his office shall be transmitted by mail free of 
postage. 

Act July 28, 1866, section 13 — Establishes the Bureau of Statistics, authorizes the 
Secretary of the Treasury to appoint a director to superintend the business of said bureau, 
and provides for the transmission by mail free of postage of all letters and documents to and 
from him relating to the business of his office. 

Act March 2, 1868. — The adjutants-general of the States and Territories authorized 
to transmit by mail free of postage any medals, certificates of thanks, or other testimonials 
awarded or that may be awarded by the legislatures of said States and Territories, to the 
soldiers thereof, under regulations to be prescribed by the Postmaster-General. 

Act March 9, 1868, section 3.— Leiters and documents to and from the Congressional 
Printer relating to the business of his office shall be transmittted by mail free of postage, 
under regulations to be prescribed by the Postmaster- General. 

Act June 25, 1868— That the operations of section 4, act of March 25, 1864, shall 
cease on and after September 30, 1868. 



hall be Money order system. 






Postage on drop 
letters reduced. 



396 APPENDIX. 

Act July i*], 1808, s-ction 1. — Prepaid letters having the name and address of the 
writer in writing or in print on the outside, after remaining uncalled for at the post-office 
to which directed 30 days, or the time the writer may direct, shall be returned to the writer 
without additional postage. 

Act July 27, 1868, section 2. — Changes the fee on money-orders as follows : For any 
sum not exceeding $20, 10 cents ; for any sum exceeding $20 and not exceeding $30, 15 cents ; 
for any sum exceeding $30 and net exceeding $40, 20 cents ; for any sum exceeding $40 and 
not exceeding $50, 25 cents. 

Act Jidv 27, 1868, section 8. — Authorizes the Postmaster-General to appoint a super- 
intendent ot foreign mails. 

Act July 27, 1868, section 3. — Weekly newspapers sent to subscribers in the county 
where printed and published, to be delivered free of postage when deposited in the office 
nearest the office of publication ; but they shall not be distributed by letter-carriers unless 
postage is prepaid thereon at the rate of 5 cents per quarter for not less than one quarter nor 
more than one year, at the office of mailing or delivery, at the option of the subscriber. 

Act March 1, i86q. — Requires the franking privilege to be exercised by persons entitled 
to it by the written autograph signature upon the matter franked ; letters or other mail- 
matter not thus franked to be charged with postage. 

Act July 8, 1870, section 8 — Provides that the Commissioner of Patents may send 
and receive by mail free of postage letters, printed matter, and packages relating to the busi- 
ness of his office, including Patent-Office Reports. 

Act July 8, 1870, section 95. — Any copyright book or other article may be sent to the 
Librarian of Congress by mail free of postage : Provided, The words "copyright matter" 
are plainly written or printed on the outside of the package. 

Act June 1, 1872, section 4. — Repeals section 12, act March 3, 1847, and section 8, 
act March 3, 1851, so far as said sections provide for specific permanent appropriations for 
carrying free matter in the mails for the several departments and members of Congress ; 
hereafter payment for carrying such matter shall be made out of the annual appropriations 

Act June 8, 1872, section 30. — Authorizes the Postmaster-General to establish a blank 
agency for the Post-Office Department, to be located at Washington, D. C. 

Act June 8, 1872, section 99. — The rate of postage on newspapers (exeepting weeklies), 
periodicals not exceeding 2 ounces in weight, and circulars, when deposited in a letter-carrier 
office for delivery by the office or its carriers, shall be uniform at 1 cent each ; but periodicals 
weighing more than 2 ounces shall be subject to a postage of 2 cents each ; these rates to be 
prepaid by stamps. 

Act June 8, 1872, section 107. — Provides that no money-order shall be issued for more 
than $50, and establishes the following fees : For any amount not exceeding $10, 5 cents ; 
for any amount exceeding $10 and not exceeding $20, 10 cents ; for any amount exceeding 
$20 and not exceeding $30, 15 cents ; for any amount exceeding $30 and not exceeding $40, 
20 cents ; for any amount exceeding $40, 25 cents. 

Act June 8, 1872, section 127. — Letters upon the official business of the Post-Office 
Department may be registered free of charge and pass by mail free of charge. 

Act June 8, 187;', sretiou 127 — Provides that the fee for registering valuable letters 

shall not exceed 20 cents in addition to the regular postage, and must be prepaid. Letters 

upon official business of the Post-Office Department may be registered free of charge and 

pass through the mails free of charge. 

Three classes of Act June 8, 1872, section 130. — Divides mailable matter into three classes : First class, 

mailable matter, letters ; second class, regular printed matter ; third class, miscellaneous matter. 

Act June 8, 1872, section 131. — Mailable matter of the first class shall embrace all 
correspondence wholly or partly in writing, except book manuscript and corrected proofs 
passing between authors and publishers 

Act June 8, 1872, section 132. — Second class, to embrace all matter exclusively in 
print and regularly issued at stated periods from a known office of publication, without 
addition by writing, mark, or sign. 

Act June 8, 1872, section 133. — Third class, to embrace all other mailable matter. 
Matter of this class except books and other printed matter, book-manuscripts, proof- 
sheets and corrected proof-sheets, shall not exceed 12 ounces in weight. Samples of metals, 
ores, and mineralogical specimens, limited to 12 ounces. 

Act June 8, 1872, section 134. — Limits weight of packages to 4 pounds, except books 
published or circulated by order of Congress. 

Act June 8, 1872, section 1^6. — Matter not charged with letter postage, nor lawfully 
franked, subject to letter-postage, unless wrapped in accordance with regulations of the 
Postmaster-General. 

Ait June 8, 1872, section 141. — Publishers of newspapers or periodicals may print or 
write upon their publications to regular subscribers the address, the date when the subscription 
expires, and may inclose therein bills and receipts for subscription, without extra postage. 

Act June 8, 1872, section 142. — To inclose or conceal any letter, memorandum, or 
other thing in any mail matter not charged with letter-postage, or to write thereon, sub- 
jects such matter to letter-postage. 



APPENDIX. 



397 



Act June 8, 1872, section 150. — Requires that the postage on all mail-matter, except 
as hereinaftei provided, must be prepaid at the time of mailing. 

Act June 8, 1872, section 151. — Permits mail-matter on which one full rate has been 
prepaid to be forwarded to destination, and the unpaid rate collected on delivery. 

Ait June 8, 1872, section 152. — Mail-matter on which postage is required to be pre- 
paid, reaching its destination, by inadvertence, without such prepayment, shall be subject to 
double the prepaid rates. 

Act June 8, 1872, section is6. — That on all matter wholly or partly in writing, except 
book-manuscripts and corrected proofs passing between author and publisher, and local 
drop letters ; on all printed matter, so marked as to convey any other information than is 
conveyed by the original print, except the correction of a mere typographical error ; on all 
matter sent in violation of law or regulations respecting inclosures ; and on all matter to 
which no specific rate of postage is assigned, postage shall be 3 cents the half ounce or 
fraction thereof. 

Act June 8, 1872, section 157. — Fixes the postage on drop or local letters at letter- 
carrier offices at 2 cents the half ounce or fraction thereof, and 1 cent the half ounce or 
fraction thereof at all other offices. 

Act June 8, 1872, section 158. — Quarterly postage on newspapers and other periodical 
publications, not exceeding 4 ounces in weight, sent to subscribers, shall be at the following 
rates : On publications issued less frequently than once a week, 1 cent for each issue ; issued 
once a week, 5 cents ; and 5 cents additional for each issue more frequent than once a week; 
an additional rate shall be charged for each additional 4 ounces or fraction thereof. 

Act June 8, 1872, section 160. — Small newspapers issued less frequently than once a 
week, in packages to one address, to subscribers, 1 cent for each 4 ounces or fraction thereof. 

Act Jui/e 8, 1872, section 161. — Regular dealers in newspapers and periodicals may 
receive and transmit by mail such quantities of either as they may require, and pay the post- 
age as received, at the same rates as subscribers who pay quarterly in advance. 

Act June 8, 1872, section 163. — Postage on mailable matter of the third class shall be 
at the rate of 1 cent for each 2 ounces or fraction thereof, except that double these rates 
shall be charged for books, samples of metals, ores, minerals, and merchandise. 

Act June 8, 1864, section 164. — Packages of woolen, cotton, or linen clothing, in pack- 
ages not exceeding 2 pounds, may be sent by mail to any non-commissioned officer or private 
in the army, if prepaid, 1 cent each ounce or fraction thereof. 

Act June 8, 1872, section 166. —Letters conveyed in vessels not regularly employed in 
carrying the mail shall, if for delivery in the United States, be rated with double postage. 

Act June 8, 1872, section 170 — Provides Jor the issue and transmission by mail of Postal cards 
postal-cards at I cent each. authorized. 

Act June 8, 1872, section 180. — Confers the franking privilege upon and limits it to 
the following named persons : 

First. The President, by himself or private secretary, to cover all mail-matter. 

Second. Vice-President, to cover all mail-matter. 

Third. The chiefs of the several executive departments. 

Fourth. Senators, Representatives, Delegates, Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of 
the House — to cover their correspondence, all printed matter issued by authority of Congress, 
and all speeches, proceedings, and debates in Congress. 

Fifth. Such heads of bureaus or chief clerks as the Postmaster-General may designate, 
to cover official communications only. 

Sixth. Postmasters, to cover official communications to other postmasters only. 

Written autograph signatures, of all persons entitled to frank, required; mail-matter 
not thus franked to be charged with postage. 

Act June 8, 1872, section 181. — The franking privilege of Senators, Representatives, 
Delegates, Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House, to commence with the term for 
which they are elected and to expire the first Monday in December following such term. 

Act June 8, 1872, section 182. — Books or publications procured or published by order 
of Congress, to be public documents, and may be franked as such. 

Act June 8, 1872, section 183. — Maximum weight for franked and free matter shall be 
4 pounds, except petitions to Congress, congressional and excecutive public documents, 
periodical publications interchanged between publishers, and packages of seeds, cuttings, 
roots, and scions, the weight of which latter may be fixed by the Postmaster-General. 

Act June 8, 1872, section 184. — Free mail-matter. — The following mail-matter shall be 
allowed to pass free in the mail : 

First. All mail-matter sent to the President or Vice-President. 

Second. Official communications to chiefs, heads of bureaus, chief clerks, or franking- 
officer of any of the executive departments. 

Third. Letters and printed matter sent to Senators, Representatives, Delegates, 
Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House. 

Fourth. Petitions to Congress. 

Fifth, Copyright matter to the Librarian of Congress, if marked "copyright mat- 
ter." 



39» 



APPENDIX. 



Official stamps 
authorized. 



Newspaper and 
periodical rates 



Sixth. Publications sent and received by the Smithsonian Institution, if marked 
" Smithsonian exchange." 

Seventh Newspapers, periodicals, and magazines exchanged between publishers, not 
exceeding 16 ounces in weight. 

Eighth. Weekly newspapers, one copy to each subscriber within the county where 
the same is printed and published. 

Ninth. Notice to the publishers of the refusal or neglect of subscribers to take news- 
papers, magazines, or other periodicals from the post office. 
Tenth. Dead-letters returned to the writers, 

Eleventh. Medals, certificates of thanks, or other testimonials awarded by the 
legislatures of States and Territories to the soldiers thereof. 

Act June 8, 1872, section 185. — All mail-matter to or from Mary Lincoln, widow of 
late President Lincoln. 

Act June 8, 1872, section 199. — Prepaid and free letters shall be forwarded from one 
post-office to another at request of the person addressed, without additional charge for postage. 
Act January 9, 1873. — Amends section 133 of act of June 8, 1872, so as to authorize 
the transmission by mail of packages of seeds, cuttings, bulbs, roots, and scions, of any 
weight. For each package not exceeding 4 pounds, the postage shall be 1 cent for each 2 
ounces or fraction of an ounce ; to be prepaid in full. 

Act January 31, 1873. — Abolishes the franking privilege from and after July I, 1873. 
Act March 3, 1873. — Repeals, from and after June 30, 1873, all laws and parts of laws 
permitting the transmission by mail of any free matter whatever. 

Act March 3, 1873. — Authorizes the use of official postage stamps and stamped envelopes 
for payment of postage on official matter of executive departments. 

Act March 3, 1873, section 1, volume 17, page 486. — Salary of the Postmaster-General 
increased to $10,000 per annum. 

Act January 20, 1874. — Reduces the salary of the Postmaster-General to $8,oco. 
Act June 23, 1874, section 5. — On and after January 1, 1875, on all newspapers and 
periodical publications mailed from a known office of publication or news agency, and ad- 
dressed to regular subscribers or news agents, postage shall be charged at the following rates : 
On newspapers and periodical publications issued weekly and more frequently, 2 cents a 
pound or fraction thereof ; and on those issued less frequently than once a week, 3 cents a 
pound or fraction thereof: Provided, That nothing in this act shall be held to change 
section 99 of the act of June 8, 1872. 

Newspaper and periodical stamps were introduced under this act. 

Act June 23, 1874, section 7. — Newspapers, one copy to each subscriber residing in 
the county where same are printed in whole or in part, and published, shall go free in the 
mails ; but they shall not be delivered at letter-carrier offices or be distributed by carriers 
unless postage is paid thereon. 

Act June 23, 1874, section 8. — Mailable matter of the third class referred to in section 
133 of act of June 8, 1872, may weigh not exceeding 4 pounds to each package, and postage 
shall be charged thereon at the rate of 1 cent for each 2 ounces or fraction thereof. 

Act June 23, 1874, section 13 — Fixes the postage on public documents mailed by any 
member of Congress, the President or head of any executive department, at 10 cents for each 
bound volume, and unbound documents the same rate as that on newspapers mailed from a 
known office of publication to subscribers ; and the postage on the daily Congressional 
Record, mailed from the city of Washington as transient matter, at 1 cent. 

Act March 3, 1875, section 3. — Extends the provisions of section 13 of act of June 23, 
1874, to ex- Members of Congress and ex-Delegates, for nine months after the expiration of their 
terms; and postage on public documents mailed by them shall be as provided in such section. 
Act March 3, 1875, section 5. — The Congressional Record, or any part thereof, or 
speeches or reports therein, shall, under the frank of a Member or Delegate, written by him- 
self, be carried in the mail free of postage ; and public documents printed or ordered to be 
printed for the use of either house of Congress may pass free by mail upon the frank of any 
Member or Delegate of the present Congress, written by himself, until the first day of 
December, 1875. 

Act March 3, 1875, section 7. — Seeds transmitted by the Commissioner of Agriculture, 
or by any Member or Delegate receiving them for distribution from said department, together 
with the Agricultural Reports, shall pass free in the mails under regulations of the Postmaster- 
General ; and the provisions of this section shall apply to ex-Members and ex-Delegates for 
the period of nine months after the expiration of their term. 

Act March 3, 1875, volume 18, page 377. — Amends section 8 of act of June 23, 1874, 
by inseiting the word "ounce" in lieu of the words "two ounces." 

Act July 12, section 15, volume 19, page 82. — Rates on all printed matter of the third 
class, except unsealed circulars, fixed at 1 cent for 2 ounces. Permits limited inscriptions 
and addresses on third-class matter. 

Act March 3, 1877, sections 5 and 6, volume 1 9, page 335. — Provides for official penalty 
Penalty enrelopeg. envelopes and free transmission of same in mails when sent by executive departments and 
containing inclosures relating to government business. 



APPENDIX. 



399 



Act March 3, 1879, section 29, volume 20, page 362. — The provisions of the preceding 
act extended to the Smithsonian Institution and to all government officers. 

Act March 3, 1879, sections 7-27, volume 20, pages 358-362. —General act repealing 
all former laws relating to classification of mail-matter and rates of postages. Makes four 
classes of mail-matter, to wit : First-class, written matter, at 3 cents each half ounce ; second 
class, periodical publications regularly issued for general information, at 2 cents per pound, 
including sample copies ; third class, miscellaneous printed matter, at 1 cent for each 2 
ounces ; and fourth class, merchandise, all matter not included in the other three classes, at 
1 cent each ounce. Liberalizes the provisions of former laws respecting written inscriptions 
on printed matter, and defines printed matter generally. 

Act March 3, 1879, section 32, volume 20, page 362. — Authorizes the Postmaster-Gen- 
eral to introduce letter-sheet envelopes and double postal-cards. 

Act March 3, 1883, section I, volume 22, page 455. — Reduces the postage on first-class 
matter to 2 cents a half ounce on and after October 1, 1883. 

Act March 3, 1883, section 1, volume 22, page 526. — The Postmaster-General may 
authorize postmasters at money order offices to issue money-orders for small sums under $s, 
without corresponding advices, to be designated as ' postal notes," the fee therefor to be 
3 cents, and the note to be payable to bearer. 

Act March 3, 1883, section 3, volume 22, page 527. — Forbids the issue of a money- 
order for more than $100, and fixes the fees as follows : For any sum not exceeding $10, 8 
cents ; for any sum exceeding $15, 10 cents ; for any sum exceeding $15 and not exceeding 
$30, 15 cents ; for any sum exceeding $30 and not exceeding $40, 20 cents ; for any sum 
exceeding $40 and not exceeding $50, 2s cents ; for any sum exceeding $50 and not exceeding 
$60, 30 cents ; for any sum exceeding $60 and not exceeding $70, 35 cents ; for any sum 
exceeding $70 and not exceeding $80, 40 cents ; for any sum exceeding $80 and not exceed- 
ing $100, 45 cents. 

Act June 9. 1884, volume 23, page 40 — Rate of postage on newspapers and periodicals 
sent by other than the publishers fixed at 1 cent for every 4 ounces or fraction thereof. 

Act March 3, 1885 section 1, volume 23, page 3S7. — Reduces postage on first-class 
matter to 2 cents an ounce or fraction thereof; the postage on drop letters to be 2 cents an 
ounce or fraction thereof, including delivery at letter-carrier offices, and 1 cent at non-carrier 
offices. Reduces the postage on second-class matter sent by publishers to 1 cent a pound or 
fraction thereof. 

Act March 3, 1885, section 3, volume 23, page 387. — Special-delivery system anthotized 
at all places having a population of 4,000 or more. Special stamps authorized to secure im- 
mediate delivery, which, on arrival of letters at such place, is to be performed by special 
messengers at a fee of 8 cents for each letter. 

Act June 29, 1886, section I, volume 24, page 86. — Reduces the fee on domestic 
money-orders for less than $5, from 8 cents to 5 cents. 

Act August 4, 1886, section 1, volume 24, page 220 — Special-delivery system extended 
to all post-offices 

Act January 3, 1887, section I, volume 24, page 355.— Extends the free-delivery 
service to all cities having not less than 10,000 inhabitants, or at any post-office the gross 
annual revenue of which is $ro,ooo. 

Act March 3, 1887, section I, volume 24, page 354. — Authorizes the Postmaster-Gen- 
eral to designate other than money-order offices to issue postal-notes for sums under $5, 
fee 3 cents. 

Act July 24, 1888 — Rate of postage on seeds, scions, bulbs, cuttings, roots, and plants 
reduced to 1 cent for every 2 ounces or fraction thereof. 



Two cent rate on 
first-class matter. 



Postal uotes. 



Rates reduced. 



Special delivery 
ivsteni authorized. 



Addenda. 



To the bisected stamps of the 1851-55 issue, which are described on 
pages 70 and 71, another variety must be added Mr H. B. Phillips has 
found a cover bearing three copies of the 3 cent stamp and one-third of 
another copy, used as 10 cents. The cover is postmarked " Wrentham, Mass., 
June 4," but the year is missing, as is usual in postmarks of that period. The 
letter is addressed to a gentleman in San Francisco, from whose correspon- 
dence Mr. Phillips obtained it. 

On pages 130 and 134, will be found a paragraph referring to the 
stamps of the Continental Bank Note Co. with the grill. Having obtained 
some additional information about these stamps, I published a short article 
in the American Journal of Philately, for July, igoi, from which I quote : 

"A small number of these grilled stamps has recently been found in 
the possession of a gentleman who obtained them from the Post Office 
Department at Washington At the same time a few additional facts about 
the stamps have been learned 

In June, 1876, a stamp cleaning case was tried in the courts. It was 
attended by the usual flurry among officials and a revival of the discussion 
of preventatives of such frauds. The Continental Bank Note Co., who then 
held the contract for the manufacture of postage stamps, suggested putting 
the grill into use once more- They were ordered to prepare 1,000 copies of 
each value then current. As they had not the requisite machinery for making 
the grill roller, they entrusted the work to Campbell & Watt, a firm of 
machinists of New York City. To this we may attribute the small differences 
between this grill and those of the National Bank Note Co. The order was 
duly executed and perhaps slightly exceeded, since it included the 2, 7, 12 
and 24 cents of the 1873 series, which had ceased to be issued to the public. 
The grilled stamps were forwarded to Washington and put into circulation ; 
but the Continental Bank Note Co. did not receive any further orders to 
apply the patent " 

The complete series of these stamps has not yet been found by 



1851-55. 

Bisected three cent 
stamps. 



1873. 

Stamps with the 

grill. 



402 



ADDENDA. — CONTINUED. 



1901. 

Inverted medallions. 



Reprints, etc. 
Erroring the sur- 
charge. 



collectors, but, in addition to the varieties listed on page 137, we now know 
the following : 



May 1st, 1873 
June, 1875 



ioc brown 
2c scarlet vermilion 
5c dark blue 



Of the bicolored series, issued in 1901 (described on pages 200 and 
201 ), the one, two and four cents have been found with the central medallion 
inverted. The five and ten cents are also said to exist in this condition but 
the report lacks confirmation. 

On page 357 is given a list of official stamps surcharged, in error, 
" sepcimen " instead of "specimen." To this list should be added the 10 
cents of the Post Office Department. 



Errata. 



Page 66, line 14. For "March 30th, 1855," read: "March 3rd, 1855." 

67-74, inclusive. The headline should read: "Issues of 1851-55," 
instead of "Issues of 1851-57." 

" 106, line 29. For "1861," read : "1867." 

194, opposite line 32. Insert the marginal note : " Deliveries to Post- 
masters." 

361, line 40. For" June 16th, 1884," read : "July 16th, 1884" 



Index. 



PAGt. 


Addenda 


401 


Agriculture, Goddess o f 


295 


" The department of 257 


*59 


" reprints 
Alexandria, Va. 


357 
12 


Allen, Phineas 


39 


America, Figure of 173, 295, 
American Bank Note Co. 


320 
'44 


Plates of the 


'45 


Contract awarded to 


'53 


Contract for Columbian 




series modified 


'77 


Special printing of Official 




stamps by 
Annapolis, Va. 


357 
'3 


handstamps 


•4 


Appendix 

Astraea, Vignette of 

Automobile 


375 
295 
200 



Balboa 173 
Baloca, R. — " Columbus Announcing 

his Discovery " 173 

Baltimore, Md. 15 

Counterfeit 16 

Carriers' Stamps 207 

Beckman, John C. 215 

Stamps of 221 

Bisected Stamps : 

1851-57 ' ssue 7°i 7'- 4 01 

1869 issue 1 14 

1890 issue 165 

Post Office department 267 

Postage due 341,342 

Books of stamps 187 

Boscawen, N. H. 20 

Boston Carriers' stamps 21 1 

U. S. Penny Post 21 1 

Penny Post 212 

Penny Post Paid 212 

Hill's Post 212 

Brattleboro, Vt. 21 

An eleventh variety of 21 

Bridge at Niagara Falls 200 

Bridge, Mississippi River 192 

Brown & McGill, Stamps of 22? 

Brozik, — " Columbus Soliciting Aid " 1 73 

Bryan, Daniel 12 



Buchanan, James M. 
Buffalo", " Indian Hunting 
Bureau of Engraving and Printing 
Contract with 

Canal Locks at Saulte Sainte Marie 
Capped numerals 

Carrier service, Local posts and the 
" " rates 

" " Review of the 

" " Cities which had 

" Carriers' Dispatch " stamps 207, 

Carriers' stamp, First 

The Franklin 

reprints 
The Eagle 

reprints 
Carriers' stamps, issue of 1851 

origin of the various 
official and semi-official 
date of use 
counterfeits 
Baltimore 
Boston 
Charleston 
Louisville 
New York 
Philadelphia 
Wells, Fargo & Co.'s 
Pony Express 
Reprints : 
paper 
color 

impression 
quantities sold 
Cattle in Storm", " Western 
Ceres, Vignette of 
Cerrachi, — Head of Franklin, after 
bust by 
Profile bust of Thomas 
Jefferson 
Charleston Carriers' stamps : 

John H. Honour stamps 
E. J. Kingman " 

Joseph G. Martin " 
John F. Steinmeyer " 
John C. Beckman " 
Counterfeits 



PAGE 

15 

I92 

170 
179 

200 
164 
202 
203 
203 
206 
209 
9 
245 
355 
248 

355 
66 
202 
206 
206 

221 
207 
21 I 
215 
222 
225 
2 33 

238 

355 
355 
355 
355 
356 
192 
295 

109 

.63 
215 
216 
219 
220 
220 
221 
221 



406 



INDEX. 



Cliubbuck, Thomas 

City Despatch 

City Despatch Post, Greig's 

New York 
United States 
Clay, Henry 122, 

Clio 

Cog wheel (Fletcher) punch 
Collecting, An official view of stamp 
Collectors, Purchases by stamp dealers 

and 
Columbian series, (see also " Issue of 
1893 ") 

purchases of, by stamp 
dealers and collectors 
Columbus 
" Columbus in Sight of Land " 

" Landing of 109, 

" Flagship of 
" Fleet of 

Soliciting Aid of Isabella" 
Welcomed at Barcelona " 
Restored to Favor" 
Presenting Natives" 
Announcing his Discovery" 
at La Rabida " 
"Recall of 
in Chains " 

Describing Third Voyage " 
Commerce 
Continental Bank Note Co.: 

consolidated with American 

Bank Note Co. 
plates of the, used for the 
1879 issue 
Contract awarded to American Bank 
Note Co. 
requiring printing by steam 
with Bureau of Engraving and 
Printing 
Counterfeiting grills, Temptations to 
Counterfeits : 

Baltimore, Md. 
Providence, R. 1. 
St. Louis, Mo 
grills, 1869 issue 
" 1870 issue 
two cent stamp, 1894-95 issue 
Carrier's stamps, Charleston 
" Louisville 
" " New York 

Philadelphia 
Newspaper stamps, 1805 
Crawford, — Figure of " America " 295, 
Criticism on reprinting, Journalistic 
Cuba, Stamps surcharged for 

Date of issue ; — see under each issue 
Dead letter office, Seal for letters opened 

in the 
" Declaration of Independence" 
Defective grills, (1870) 
Degrain, Munoz — " Isabella Pledging 

her Jewels" 
Deliveries to postmasters ; — see under 

each issue 
Delivery stamps, special 



PAGE. 

22 

23O 

225 

225 



Department, Executive 
Treasury 



Department, State 



163 
296 

'34 
171 

'77 
170 

'77 
'73 
1 72 
172 
'73 
'73 
'73 
'73 
'73 
'73 
'73 
'73 
'73 
'73 
'73 
296 

'44 

'44 

'45 

'53 
'53 

179 
105 

16 
43 
5o 
"7 
'23 
189 
221 
223 
230 
234 
293 
320 
343 
'97 



369 
1 10 
123 

'73 



250 



PAGE. 
2S6-288 
256-288 
256-288 
256-288 
256-288 
256-288 
256-288 
256-288 



War 
" Navy 

Post Office 

" Interior 

" Justice 

" Agriculture 

Department stamps 256 

reprints 356 

Departments, Deliveries of stamps to 279 

Designs ; — see under each issue 

Despatch, City 230 

Post Office 207, 208 

Despatch Post, Greig's City 225 

New York City 225 

United States City 228 

Destroyed, Plates of all obsolete issues 364 

" remainders, 1873-75 issue 143 

" stamps, 1867 issue 103 

" unsold stamps, 1893 issue 177 

Destruction of the grill rollers 124 

" of unissued Official stamps 286 

Die, Making of 59 

Dies, Retouched and re-engraved, 

1 88 [-2 issue 147 
Dispatch, Carriers' 207, 209 

" Government City 209 
Distributing stamps to postmasters, 

methods of, (1847) 62 

Dodge, — Portrait of Andrew Jackson by 90 
Double paper. Stamps on : 

1869 issue 1 14 

1870 issue 123 
1873-75 issue 134, 195 
1804-95 issue 182 

" Douglas patent " stamps 148 

Due stamp, Post Office stamp used. as a 267 
Due stamps, Postage ; — see Postage 
Due stamps 



256-288 



Eagle 222, 

Eagle Carriers' stamp, The 
reprints of 
Eagle on shield 
Eaily postal arrangements 
" postal laws 
" rates of postage 
Eight cents : 
1890 
1893 
1898 
1001 

Newspaper 
Newspaper reprint 
Eighty-four cents : 
Newspaper 
Newspaper reprint 
Eleventh variety of Brattleboro, Vt. 

Discovery of an 
Emigration ", " Hardships of 
Envelopes, Baltimore 
" New Haven 
" New York 
" Washington 
" of 1857 not invalid 
" Official, authorized 
" Penalty, authorized 



223, 249 
248 

355 
109, 1 10 

5 
6 
6 



172 



163 

'73 
192 
200 
295 
361 

295 
362 

35 
192 
18 
29 
36 

52 

82 

257 
277 



INDEX. 



407 



PAGE. 

Errata 404 

Error of surcharge, Official stamps 356, 402 
Executive, The 257, 259 

special printing of 
Express, Fast, (train) 

" stamps, Wells, Fargo & Co.'s 
Pony 
" Eye Type" stamps 



357 
200 



" Farming in the West" 

" Fast Express" 

" Fast Lake Navigation" 

" Fast Ocean Navigation " 

Ferdinand 

Find, The Louisville 

Fifteen cents : 

1861-66, reprint 
1866 
1867 

1867, blackish purple 
1869 

1869, types of the 
1869, inverted medallion 
1869, reprint 
1870 

1873-75, secret mark 
1873-75, reprint 
1873-75, reprint of 1880 
i8qo 
.893 
Fifty cents : 
1893 
1894-95 
1898 

Newspaper, 1895 
Postage due, 1879 
Postage due, 1879, special 

printing 
Postage due, 1894-95 
Fifty dollars : 

Newspaper 
Newspaper, reprint 
Fireside, Goddess of the 
First carriers' stamp 
" local stamp 
" stamps authorized 
" sold 
Fisher, Maturin L. 
Five cents : 
1847 

1847, reprints 
1851-55 

1851-57, types ol 
1857, reprints 
1857-60 types of 
1861 

1861, reprint 
1867, grilled all over 
1867 

'§73-75 

1873-75, reprint 

1873-75, reprint of 1880 

1882 

1882, reprint 

1888 

1888 on pink paper 

1890 

.893 



207 

192 
200 
200 
200 

'73 
50 

350 
92 
102 
103 
109 
1 10 
1 12 

?5i 
1 22 
132 
352 
353 
,63 

'73 

'73 
181 
192 
320 
31° 

364 
337 

320 

363 

296 

9 

9 

59 

62 

54 

60 
346 

07 

69 

348 

76 

84,89 

349 
100 
101 

132, 149 
352 
353 
150 

354 
'54 
■55 
.63 

'73 



Five cents : 
1898 
1901 

Newspaper, 1865 
Newspaper, 1865, reprints 
Newspaper, 1895 
Postage due, 1879 
Postage due, 1879, reprints 
Postage due, 1894-95 
Five dollars : 

1893 
1894-95 

State department 
Newspaper, 1895 
Newspaper, 1895, reprint 
" Flagship of Columbus" 
" Fleet of Columbus " 
Fletcher punch (" cog wheel ') 
Foity-eight cents : 

Newspaper 
Newspaper, reprint 
Forty-eight dollars : 

Newspaper 
Newspaper, reprint 



Four cents 



18S3 

1883, reprint 

1888 

1890 

.893 

1893, error of color 



PAGE. 
IQ2 

200 
289 
360 
320 
330 
364 

337 

'73 
181 
259 
320 
363 
'73 
'73 
'34 

295 
362 

296 
362 

'5' 
354 
'54 
162 

'73 
'74 
192 
200 
402 
295 
36, 



1901 

1901, inverted medallion 
Newspaper 
Newspaper, reprint 
Four dollars : 

1893 
" Francis" patent 
Franking 

" privilege (1845) 

" abolished 

Abolition of, causes 
dissatisfaction 
" extended 
Franklin, Benjamin 60, 66, 76, 83, 109, 121 

153, 166, 244, 290 

Franklin Carriers' stamp, The 244 

reprints 55c 

" Fremont on the Rocky Mountains " 192 



'73 

9' 

256 

S7 
257 

276 
278 



Gardner, Col. Chas. K. 
Garfield, James A. 
" Garter " stamp 

" " Counterfeits of the 

Goddess of Agriculture 

" of Peace 

" of the Fireside 

" of Victory 

" of Wisdom 

" of Youth 
Government Issues 
Graffiin's local post 
Grant, U. S. 

Gravures, Premieres, 1861 issue 
Gray surfaced paper, Post Office 
department 



52 

150, 163 

240 

241 

295 
296 
296 
296 
296 
296 

57 
207 

'63 

8s 

267 



408 



INDEX. 



Gregori, Luigi ; — "Columbus presenting 

Natives" 
Greig's City Despatch Post 
Greig's Post 

Grill roller, Process of making the 
" rollers, Destruction of the 
" Sizes of the, 1869 issue 
Grilling stamps, Patent for 

" Oddities of 
Grills, Counterfeit 1870 

" counterfeiting, Temptations to 

" Defective 1870 

" genuine, Characteristics of 

" Issue of 1870 

" Issue of 1873 133, 

" Marginal 

" Oddities of 

" Points up and points down 

" Sizes of 
Guam, Stamps surcharged for 197, 

Guide marks, Platemaker's 
Gum ; — see ' ' Gum " under each issue 

Handstamps, Annapolis, Va. 
Hamilton, Alexander 
" Hardships of Emigration " 
Heaton, A. G , — " Recall of Columbus" 
" Hardships of Emigra- 
tion " 
Hebe 

Hill's Post 
Historical Notes 
Honour, John H. 

Stamps of 
" Horseman " stamps 
Houdon, Portrait of Washington after 

66, 121, 

Imperforate and part perforate stamps 71 
Imprints ; — see " Plates and Imprints" 

under each issue 
" Indian Hunting Buffalo" 
Indian maiden 
Initials on stamps, (New York) 

" Platemen's 
Inman, Portrait of John Marshal! by 
Interior department, The 257, 

Special printing 
Introductory 
Invalid, Authority to declare stamps 

Envelopes of 1857 not declared 
Inverted medallions, issue of 1869 
issue of 1901 
" St-'te department 

" 1. R.", Stamps surcharged 
Isabella", " Columbus soliciting aid of 
" Isabella Pledging her Jewels " 
Isabella, Portrait of 
Issue, date of; — see under each issue 
Issue of 1847 : 

contractors 

plates 

designs 

paper 

gum 

reference list 

orders sent to contractors 

stamps unsold 



AGE, 




PAGE. 




Reprints of the : 


346 


' '73 


dies and plates 


347 


325 


paper 


347 





reference list 


347 


98 


quantities sold 


347 


124 


Issue of 1851-57 : 


05 


1 1 1 


date of issue 


66 


97 


carriers' stamps 


66 


99 


designs and colors 


66 


"23 


sizes 


67 


105 


types 


67 


123 


paper 


69 


106 


reference list 


70 


123 


bisected stamps 70, 


71, 401 


401 


plates 


72 


99 


imprints 


72 


99 


plate numbers 


7 2 


99 


statistics 


73. 74 


98 


remainders 


83 


255 


Issue of 1857-60 : 


75 


"5 


first delivery 


75 




designs and colors 


75 




sizes 


76 


14 


paper 


76 


122 


reference list 


77 


192 


imperforate and part perforat 


e 78 


'73 


shades 


78 




changelings 


78 


192 


plates and imprints 


78 


296 


plate numbers 


79 


213 


statistics 


70 


5 


redemption of the stamps of 




215 


the 


81 


216 


invalid, Authority to declare 


82 


207 


Reprints of the : 


348 




plates 


348 


162 


types 


348 




paper and perforation 


348 


.78 


reference list 


348 




quantities sold 


349 




Issues of 1861-66 


81 


192 


Issue of 1861 : 


81 


296 


historical 


81 


34 


Announcement of 


81 


253 


report of Postmaster General 


82 


181 


designs 


83 


259 


sizes 


85 


357 


premieres gravures 


85 


3 


alterations in 


85 


82 


second series 


86 


82 


types of the one cent 


86 


1 12 


" " " three cents 


86 


402 


11 •' << f ]ve cen ts 


87 


267 


" " " ten cents 


87 


'97 


" " " twelve cents 


87 


'73 


" " " ninety cents 


87 


'73 


reference list 


88 


'73 


color varieties 


88, 89 




plates and imprints 


92 


59 


plate numbers 


92 


59 


statistics 


93 


61 


specimen stamps 


93 


00 


Reprints of the : 


349 


61 


plates 


349 


61 


paper 


349 


61 


perforation and gum 


349 


63 


reference list 


349 


63 


quantities sold 


350 



INDEX 



409 



Issue of 1863 : 
design 

reference list 
on laid paper 
" Francis " patent 
reference list 
statistics 
two cents 
Issue of 1866 : 

registration 
fifteen cents 
design 

reference list 
statistics 
Issue of 1867 : 

patent for grilling stamps 
sizes of grills 
marginal grills 
date of issue 
grilled all over 
paper 

reference list 
statistics 

stamps destroyed 
plates 

plate numbers 
again brought into use 
Issue of 1869 : 

historical 

date of issue 

original designs 

designs and colors 

sizes 

types of the fifteen cents 

sizes of the grill 

refeience list 

inverted medallions 

varieties without grill 

on double paper 

plate maker's guide marks 

plates 

imprints and plate numbers 

marginal marks 

plate numbers 

statistics of manufacture 

deliveries to postmasters 

counterfeits 

Reprints of the : 

characteristics 

plates 

plate numbers 

reference list 

one cent stamp on soft 

paper 
quantities sold 
Issue of 1870 : 

historical 

announcement of issue 

date of issue 

the seven cent stamp 

designs 

on double paper 

gum 

paper 

grills 

counterfeit grills 

reference list of grills 

reference list of colors 



PAGE. 

90 

90 

90, 91 

9' 
Qi 
93 
03. 95 
90 

9' 

9' 

92 
92 
92 
94. 9 6 
97- "8 
97 



99 
00 
00 
00 
01 
03 
03 
04 
04 
18 
08 
08 
08 
09 
09 
10 
10 

I 1 

I I 
12 
14 
'5 
IS 

15 

15 

15 

16 

16 

17 

17 

350 

350 

350 

350 

351 

351 
351 

119 

119 
119 

120 
120 

I2r 
123 

12^ 

123 
123 
123 

124 

124 



PAGE. 


plates 


126 


plate numbers 


127 


statistics of manufacture 


127 


deliveries to postmasters 


128 


Reprints of the : 


35i 


dates of delivery 


351 


characteristics 


35 2 


reference list 


352 


plates 


352 


printing by American 




Bank Note Co. (1880J 


352 


characteristics 


353 


reference list 


353 


plates 


353 


quantities sold 


353 


Issue of 1873-75 : 


130 


historical 


130 


secret marks 


130 


plates, new 


131 


secret marks, description of 


131 


five cent stamp announced 


132 


three denominations 




discontinued 


133 


five cent stamp, design of 


133 


grills 133 


401 


Fletcher, or cog wheel, 




punch 


'34 


chemical paper 


134 


double paper 


T 34 


starched paper 


135 


regular papers 


135 


ribbed paper 


136 


gum 


136 


reference list 


137 


plates 


138 


plate numbers 


T 39 


printings on steam press 


130 


plates used on steam press 


140 


statistics of manufacture 


140 


deliveries to postmasters 


141 


remainders destroyed 


143 


Issue of 1879 : 


144 


reference list 


144 


Continental B. N. Co.'s plates 




used 


145 


American B. N. Co.'s plates 


145 


plate numbers 


145 


deliveries to postmasters 


156 


Issues of 1881-82 


M7 


retouched and re-engraved dies 


147 


description of altered dies 


147 


dates of issue 


148 


" Douglas patent" stamps 


148 


reference list 


148 


plate numbers 


149 


serial letters 


149 


deliveries to postmasters 


156 


Issue of April 10th, 1882 


149 


historical 


149 


design 


150 


varieties of the five cents 


150 


date of issue 


150 


reference list 


J 5i 


deliveries to postmasters 


*57 


Reprints of the : 


354 


quantity sold 


354 


characteristics 


354 


plates 


354 



4io 



Issue of October i, 1883 : 

historical 

designs 

date of issue 

reference list 

plate numbers 

laid paper 

specimen stamps 

deliveries to postmasters 

Reprints of the : 

date of delivery 
characteristics 
quantities sold 
Issue of June 15, 1887 : 

design 

reference list 

plate numbers 

deliveries to postmasters 
Issue of 1887-88 : 

changes in colors 

reference list 

plate numbers 

deliveries to postmasters 
Issue of 1890 : 

historical 

sample stamps in the proposed 
colors 

dates of issue 

designs and colors 

paper, etc 

capped numerals 

reference list 

bisected stamps 

proofs 

plates 

plate numbers 

deliveries to postmasters 
Issue of 1803 : 

historical 

negotiations with the con- 
tractors 

the eight cent stamp 

designs and colors 

paper, gum, elc 

reference list 

varieties 

error of color 

plates 

plate numbers 

deliveries to postmasters 

proofs 

purchases by stamp dealers and 
collectors 

unsold stamps withdrawn and 
destroyed 
Issue of 1894-95 : 

history of the contract 

transfer of stamps 

transfer of dies, rolls and plates 

date of issue 

additions to the designs 

varieties of the triangle 

new denominations 

designs and colors 

paper 

watermark 

laid, double and ribbed paper 

paper watermarked " U. S. I. 1 



I7T 



INDEX. 






'AGE. 




page' 


151 




chemical paper 


181 


151 




reference list 


182 


151 




plates 


184 


152 




imprints and numbers 


184 


i5 2 




plate numbers 


184 


1*2 




books of stamps 


187 


152 




deliveries to postmasters 


188 


152 




counterfeit two cent stamp 


189 


x 57 




quantities of stamps without 




354 




watermark 


189 


354 




stamps with various imprints 


189 


354 


Issue of 1898, — (Trans-Mississippi^ : 


191 


355 




designs and colors 


191 


153 




reference list 


*93 


15? 




plates 


193 


154 




plate numbers 


*93 


154 




plates not used 


194 


158 




plates for experimental work 


194 


154 




deliveries to postmasters 


194 


154 




specimen stamps 


19s 


154 


Issue of 1898 : 


196 


155 




changes in colors 


1 96 


157 




reference list 


19^ 


160 




plate numbers 


196 


160 




stamps surcharged " 1. R." 


197 






stamps surcharged for Cuba, etc. 


197 


IOI 




deliveries to postmasters 


197 


162 




deliveries to Universal Postal 




162 




Union 


198 


163 




specimen stamps 


199 


164 


Issue of 1901, — (Pan American Series) : 


200 


164 




official description 


200 


165 




reference list 


201 


165 




plates and imprints 


201 


165 




inverted medallions 


402 


165 


Issues, 


Government 


57 


167 








170 


Jackson, Andrew 90, 121, 151, 


162 


170 


Jefferson, Thomas 67, 84 122, 163, 


181 




Jover, 


Francisco, — ' ' Columbus Restored 


1 


. i77 




to Favor" 


173 


172 




"Columbus Describ- 




172 




ing Third Voyage" 


173 


17} 


Justice 


, — The department of 257, 


259 


i73 




special printing 


357 


i74 


Justice 


, Vignette of 


295 


i74 








i74 


Kingman, h. J. 


215 


i74 


' ' 


" stamps of 


219 


r 75 








176 


Laid paper, 1863 issue 


91 






1883 issue 


152 


177 




1894-95 issue 


182 




Lamprecht, — " Marquette on the 




177 




Mississippi " 


192 


179 


La Rabida", "Columbus at 


*73 


179 


Laws, 


Early postal 


6 


180 


Lehman, George T. 


38 


180 


Leslie 


James, Article by 


6 


180 


Letter 


of Frederick N. Palmer 


21 


180 


" 


" Postmaster Morris 35, 36 


180 


Letters, Serial 


149 


181 


Letters opened in the Dead Letter Office, 


181 




Seal for 


369 


181 


Leutze 


, — "Columbus in Chains" 


'73 


181 


Liberty, Figure of 


173 


181 


Lincol 


n, Abraham 92, no, 121, 162 


, 290 


" ibi 


Local Post, Grafflin's 


207 



INDEX. 



411 



PAGE. 

Local stamps, First 9 

Lockport, N. Y. 26 

Locomotive 109 

Longacre, John B., — Portrait of Franklin 



after 
Lotto painting, Portrait of Columbus 

after the 
Louisville carriers' stamps : 

David B. Wharton stamps 
Brown & McGill " 

counterfeits 
Louisville find, The 

MacWhirter, — "Western Cattle in 

Storm" 
Madison, Fla. 
Madison, James 
Maiden, Indian 
Mail, U. S., stamps 
Manufacture, Statistics of; — see 

"Statistics of manufacture 
under each issue 
Marginal grills 
" marks 
Marks, Marginal 

" Plate maker's guide 
" Secret, 1873-75 

" " description of 

" purpose of 
" Marquette on the Mississippi " 
Marshall, John 
Martin, Joseph G. 

" " stamps of 
Maso, R. — "Columbus at La Rabida " 
Medallions, Inverted, 1869 issue 
" " 1901 issue 



00 

173 
222 

222 

223 

223 

so 



192 

55 
181 
296 
231 



State department 
Messenger boy 
Millbury, Mass. 
Minerva 

Mining Prospector", " Western 
Mississippi River bridge 
Mitchell, E. A. 
Monson, A. C 

" Marciana 
Morris, Robert H. 10, 



99 
115 
"5 
115 
130 
131 
130 
192 
181 

215 
220 
173 
112 
402 
267 
250 

27 

296 

192 

192 

io, 29 

.34 

.34 

11 20 



Natives", "Columbus Presenting 
Navigation", "Fast Lake 

" " Fast Ocean 

Navy department 257, 

special printing 356, 
two cents green 
New Haven, Conn. 

reprints 
New Orleans postage cards 
Newspaper and periodical stamps 

289, 294, 303, 318, 320, 
Issue of 1865 : 

Act concerning transportation 

of newspapers 
announcement of first newspaper 

stamps 
designs 
manufacture 
paper 

reference list 
plates, imprints, plate nunibers 



173 
200 
200 

25Q 

357 
266 

29 

56 

359 
280 



289 
289 
290 
290 
290 
391 



PAGE. 

restricted use 291 

cancellations 291 

specimen stamps 291 

use discontinued 292 

statistics of manufacture 292 
reprints 293, 359 

counterfeits 293 

Issue of 187s : 294 
system suggested by Postmaster 

General 294 
plan authorized by Congress 294 
manner of using the stamps 295 
reason for the various denomina- 
tions 295 
cancellation 295 
designs and colors 295 
paper 297 
reference list 297 
plates, plate numbers 298 
specimen stamps 299 
statistics of manufacture 299 
deliveries to postmasters 300 
reprints 361 
Issue of 1879 : 303 
change of contractors 303 
rates reduced 303 
one cent stamp 303 
plate, plate numbers 304 
reference list 304 
suggested destruction of unissued 

stamps 305 

three cent stamp again in use 305 

specimen stamps 305 

deliveries to postmasters 305 

order for special printing 315 

purpose of special printing 316 

disposition of sheets 316 

trouble about stamps 316 
nine cents printed by American 

B N. Co. 3[0 

paper, perforation, colors 316 

reference list 3 17 

Issue of 1894 : 318 

printings from plates of previous 

contractors 318 

reference list 318 

plate numbers 319 

deliveries to postmasters 319 

Issue of i8qs : 320 

official announcement 320 

designs 320 

paper 321 

reference list 321 

plates 322 

plate numbers 322 

plates not used 322 

deliveries to postmasters 323 

other deliveries 324 

sets sold to the general public 324 
regulations concerning newspaper 

and periodical stamps 325 
seizure of stamps 325 
discontinuance of stamps recom- 
mended 326 
order discontinuing use 327 
stamps returned to the P. O. 

department 327 
number of sets sold to the public 328 



412 



INDEX. 



reprints 
Reprints : 

Issue of 1805 
Issue of 1875 
Issue of 1895 



PAGE. 

362 
359 
359 
361 
^62 



Newspapers, Act concerning transporta- 
tion of 289 
New York, N. Y. 32 
" " envelopes 36 
" Initials on the stamps of 34 
" " " used in other cities io, 11 
New York carriers' stamps : 225 
City Despatch 230 
Greig's City Despatch Post 225 
New York City Despatch Post 225 
U. S. Mail 231 
United States City Despatch 

Post 228 

Niagara Falls, Bridge at 200 
Nine cents : 

Newspaper 295 

Newspaper, reprint 361 
Nine dollars : 

Newspaper 296 

Newspaper, reprint 362 
Ninety cents : 

1856, imperforate 71 

1857-60 76 

1857-60, reprint 348 

1861 85 

1861, ultramarine 89 

1861, reprint 350 

1867 102 

1869 no 
1869, inverted medallion 114 
1869, reprint 351 

1870 122 
1873-75, secret mark 132 
1873-75, reprint ^52 
1S73-7S, " of 1880 Vs} 
1888 154 
1890 163 

Ninety-six cents : 

Newspaper 295 

Newspaper, reprint 302 

Notes, Historical s 

Numerals, Capped 164 



Official circulars : 






Issue of 1861 




81 


" " 1869 

" " 1870 
Special delivery stamps 
Official stamps 
Newspaper and periodical st 
Postage due stamps 


108 
119 

2SI 
258, 278 

amps 327 
329 


reprints 344, 
Sale of newspaper and periodical 
stamps 
Official seals (see "Seals", Official) 


345 

362 

365 


Official stamps : 

Issue of 1873 : 
historical 




25(1 
256 
256 


franking 




256 


stamps and envelopes 
authorized 




257 


early deliveries 
official description 




257 
258 



PAGE. 

designs 258 
varieties of the higher 

values 260 

paper 260 

reference list 260 
Navy department 2 cents 

green 266 
P. O. department bi-sected 

6 cents 267 
P. O. department gray 

surfaced paper 267 
State department inverted 

medallions 267 

plates 268 

imprints and plate numbers 268 

statistics of manufacture 271 

Issue of 1879 : 274 

reference list 274 

specimen stamps 276 

a possible provisional issue 276 

plates 276 

" Penalty" envelopes authorized 277 

Franking privilege extended 278 

the stamps entirely abolished 279 

Deliveries to departments 279 

Unissued official stamps 285 

destruction recommended 286 

Reprints : 35 6 

plates 356 

colors 356 

error in surcharge 357, 402 

printing by American 

B. N. Co. (1881) 357 

quantities sold 3^7 
One cent : 

1851-55 66 
1851-57, types of 67, 68 

3857, reprint 348 

1861 83 

1861, reprint 349 

1867, grilled all over 100 

i8f>7 101 

1869 109 
1869, reprint 352 
1869, reprint on soft paper 352 

1870 121 
1873-75, secret mark 131 
1873-7S, reprint 352 
1873-75, reprint of 1880 35; 
1881-2 147 
1887 153 
1890 162 
1893 172 
1898 192 
1 90 1 200 
1901, inverted medallion 402 
Newspaper, 187s 295 
Newspaper, 1879 303 
Newspaper, 1895 320 
Postage due, 1879 330 
Postage due, 1S79, special print- 
ing 364 

Postage due, 1894-95 337 
One dollar : 

1893 173 

1894-95 181 

1898 192 

Newspaper, 1895 320 



INDEX. 



413 



One dollar and ninety two cents.: 




Newspaper, 1875 
Newspaper, 1879 
Newspaper, reprint 
One hundred dollars : 


295 
304 
362 


Newspaper, 1895 
Newspaper, reprint 


320 
363 



Packages of stamps sent to postmasters, 

Seal for 367 

Palmer, Frederick N. 21 

" " Letter of 2r 

Pan American series 200 

Paper ; — see " Paper'' under each issue 

Paper, Double, 1869 114 

1870 123 

1873-75 134 

1894-95 182 

Gray surfaced, Post office 

department 267 

Laid, 1863 91 

1883 152 

1894-95 182 

Ribbed, 1873-75 130 

1894-95 182 

Standard 153 

Starched, 1873-75 135 

Patent, " Douglas" 148 

" for grilling stamps 97 

" " Francis" 91 

Peace, Goddess of 296 

Pemberton, E. L., Remarkable study of 49 

" Penalty " envelopes authorized 277 

Penny Post 212 

Penny Post Paid 212 

Perforating, Letter concerning 75 

Perforation ; — see various issues 

Periodical stamps ; — see " Newspaper and 

periodical stamps" 

Perry, Commodore O. H. 122, 163, 181 
Perry, S J. 55, 56 

Philadelphia, Pa. 38 

Philadelphia carriers' stamps, The 233 
Philippine Islands, Stamps surcharged 

for 197, 255 

Pittsfield, Mass. 39 

Plate, Making of 60 
Plate numbers ; — see "plate numbers" 

under each issue 

Platemen's initials 253 
Plates ; — see "plates" under each issue 

" experimental 194 

" ordered to be cancelled 287 

Points up and points down (grills) 99 
Pony Express stamps, Wells, Fargo 

& Co.'s 238 

" " " counterfeits of 243 

Post, Grafflin's Local 207 

Greig's City Despatch 225 

Hill's 213 

New York City Despatch 225 

Paid, Penny 212 

Penny 212 

United States City Despatch 228 

Post horse and rider 109, 240 

Post Office department, The 257, 259 

stamp used as a 

" due" stamp 267, 341 



PAGE. 

gray surfaced 

paper 267 

special printings 

356, 357. 402 

" Post Office Despatch " stamps 207, 208 

Postage, Prepayment of 57 

" Rates of, 1845 57 

Postage due stamps : ^29 

Issue of 1879 : 329 

Act authorizing postage due 

stamps 329 

circular announcing issue 329 

date of issue 33o 

designs and colors 330 

reference list 33r 

plates and plate numbers 331 

used to pay regular postage 332 

special printing 332 

specimen stamps 332 

deliveries to postmasters 332 

Issue of 1894-95 : 33 6 
supposed printings from plates 

of A B. Note Co. 337 

announcement of the issue 337 

color 337 

design • 33? 

paper 33y 

reference list 3 ^g 

plates 33 8 

imprints 33 g 

plate numbers 33 s 

deliveries to postmasters 3,3a. 
deliveries to Universal 

Postal Union 340 

Universal Postal Congress 340 

specimen stamps fA 

Provisional issues : 3, 4t 

Post Office department 

stamp used 34I 
ordinary postage stamp 

surcharged 54I 
bisected stamps 34 r 
stamps bisected and sur- 
charged 34 2 
postage due paid by ordinary 

postage stamps 342 

Special printing : 3 6 4 

characteristics 3 6 4 

plates 3 <5 4 

quantities sold 364 

Postal rates modified jc. 

Postal Union, Countries in the Universal 132 

Postmasters, Deliveries to; — see under 

each issue 
Postmaster's stamp officially recognized, 

" 10 

stamps, Status of c.$ 

" The % 

" Post Obitum " stamp 3 6 

Post routes, Streets of cities made 65 

Posts, Private b 
Powell, Wm. H., — " Columbus in Sight 

of Land " ni 
Powers, Portrait of Andrew Jackson 

by 121, 162 

Premieres gravures, 1861 issue 85 

Prepaid letters, Special rate for 65 

Prepayment of postage 57 



4 i4 



INDEX. 



Presses, steam, Printing on, required by 

contract 153 

" " Printings on 139 

Printed matter, Reduction of rates for 66 
Printing on steam presses required by 

contract 153 

Printing on steam presses 139 

Private posts 6 

Proofs, 1890 issue 165 

Prospector", "Western Mining 192 

Protest against reprinting, No 343 

Providence, R. I. 40 

counterfeits 43 

reprints 42 

Providence plate, Discovery of the 41 

Provisional postage due stamps 341 

Punch, Cog wheel 134 

" Fletcher or cog wheel 134 

Puerto Rico, Stamps surcharged for 197 

Purchases by stamp dealers and 

collectors (1893 issue) 177 



Rates of postage, Early 
" of postage in 184s 
" of the carrier service 
" Postal, modified 

" Recall of Columbus " 



6 

57 
203 

153 
173 



Redemption of three and six cent stamps 153 

Re-engraved and retouched dies, 18^1-2 147 
Reference list ; — see under each issue 

Registered letters and packages, Seal for 365 

Re-Issues ; — see also " Reprints" 343 

" differentiated, Reprints and 345 

Remainders, 1857-60 issue 83 

" destroyed, 1873-75 issue 143 
Remington, Frederick; — "Troops 

Guarding Train " 192 

" Western Mining 

Prospector" 192 

Reprinting, Journalistic criticism 343 

" No protest against 343 

" Official circular relating to 344 

Reprints 31. 35. 4 2 . 293. 344~3 6 5 

and re-issues differentiated 345 

" carriers' stamps 355 

dates of first and last sales of 346 

" issue of 1847 346 

issue of 1857 348 

" issue of 1861 349 

issue of 1869 350 

" issue of 1870 351 

" issue of 1882 354 

" issue of 1883 354 

New Haven, Conn. 31 

" newspaper and periodical 

stamps 359 

newspaper stamps, 1865 293 

New York, N. Y 35 

official stamps 356, 402 

" postage due stamps 364 

quantities of 346 

" Reasons for making 344 

" seals for registered letters 365 

" Special treatment for the 346 

Retouched and re-engraved dies, 1881-2 147 

Revell, Martin F. 13 

Ribbed paper, 1873-75 136 

1894-95 182 



PAGE- 

Rocky Mountains", " Fremont on the 192 
Rogers, Randolph ; — "Columbus Wel- 
comed at Barcelona" 173 

Roller, grill, Process of making 98 

Rollers, grill. Destruction of the 124 

Rubricht, Portrait of Franklin after 83, 162 

St. Louis, Mo. 45 

counterfeits 5° 

stamps, Louisville find of 50 

Sample stamps 161 

Sayles, Welcome B. 4° 

Scarlet three cents of 1861 9.' 

Scott, Gen. Winfield 122 

Scovell, Hezekiah W. 26 

Seals, official 3°5 

for registered letters and packages 365 

date of issue 365 

purpose of the seal 365 

design 365 

gum and perforation 366 

reference list 366 

plates 366 

reprint 366 

for packages of stamps sent to 

postmasters 367 

date of issue 367 

first design 367 

overprint 367 

colors 367 

reference list 368 

second design 368 

varieties 368 

reference list 368 
for letters opened in Dead Letter 

Office, etc. 369 

" Post Obitum " 369 

design 369 

plate 369 

reference list 369 

changes in design 369 

date of issue 369 

plates and imprints 370 

paper 370 

reference list 370 
another change in the seal 370 

method of production 370 

distinguishing marks 370 

reference list 371 

stone 371 

historical 371 

sheets 372 

type-set 372 

origin 372 
design 372, 373 
changes in design and 

paper 373 

colors 373 

rouletting 373 

reference list 373 

Secret marks, 1873-75 130 

" " " description of 131 

" " purpose of 130 

Seizure of newspaper and periodical 

stamps 325 

Serial letters 149 
Seven cents : 

1870 120, 121 



INDEX. 



415 



PAGE. 

Seven cents : 

1873-75, secret mark 132 

1873-75. reprint 352 

1873-75, reprint of 1880 353 
Seventy two cents : 

Newspaper, 1875 295 

Newspaper, 1879 3°4 

Newspaper, reprint 362 

Seward, William H. 259 

Sherman, Gen. Wm. T. 163 
Shield and eagle ioq, iio 

Signatures on stamps 10 
Six cents : 

1869 109 
1869, reprint 351 

1870 121 
1873-75, secret mark 132 
1873-75, reprint 352 
1881-82 147 
1890 163 

1893 173 
Post Office department, 

bi-sected 267 

Newspaper, 1875 295 

Newspaper, 1879 304 

Newspaper, reprint 361 

Six dollars : 

Newspaper, 1875 296 

Newspaper, 1879 305 

Newspaper, reprint 362 
Sixty cents : 

Newspaper, 1875 295 

Newspaper, 1879 304 

Newspaper, reprint 362 
Sixty dollars : 

Newspaper, 1875 296 

Newspaper, 1879 305 

Newspaper, reprint 362 

Sizes ; — see under each issue 

Special delivery stamps : 250 

design 250 

official circular 251 

change of color 252 

changes in design 253 

platemen's initials 253 

paper and gum 253 

reference list 253 

plates 254 

plate nnmbers 254 

deliveries to postmasters 255 

specimen stamps 255 

surcharged stamps 255 

Special printing of Newspaper stamps, 

Order for 315 
" V Postage due stamps of 

1879 332 
Special printings (see also " Reprints") 343 
Specimen stamps : 

1861-66 93 

1883 152 

1894-95 189 
1898 195, 199 

Special delivery 255 

Newspaper, 1865 291 

Newspaper, 1875 299 

Newspaper, 1879 305 

Postage due, 1879 332 

Postage due, 1894-95 34 2 



Specimen stamps : 

Official 356, 402 

Stamp collecting, An official view of 171 

" collectors, Purchases by 177 

Stamps authorized, First 50 

Bisected, 1851-57 issue 70, 401 

" 1863 issue Q0 

1869 issue, three cents 114 

" 1890 issue !65 

" Books of 187 

" Carriers', — see " Carriers' stamps" 

" destioyed, 1867 issue 103 

" " Douglas patent " j^g 

" grilling, Patent for y 

" invalid, Authority to declare 82 

" on double paper 114, 123, 134, 182 

" Postage due, — see " Postage 

due stamps " 
" Postmasters', The 

"Sample" 161 

" "Specimen", — see "Specimen 

stamps " 
" Unpaid letter, — see " Unpaid 
letter stamps " 
Standard paper 153 

Stanton, Edward M. 121 

Starched paper, 1873-75 13; 

State department, The 257, 259 

inverted medallions 267 

special printing 356, 357 
Statistics ; — see under each issue 
Steam presses, Printings on 130 

Printing on, required by 

contract 153 

Steamship 109 

Steinmeyer, lohn F. 215 

Stamps of 220 

Streets of cities made post routes 65 

Stuart, Gilbert, Portrait of Washington 

after 6o, 67, 75, 109 

Portrait of Madison after 181 
Surcharged as Postage due stamps. 

Ordinary stamps 341 

" for Cuba, Stamps 197 

" Guam " 197, 255 

" Philippine Islands, 

Stamps 197, 255 

" " Puerto Rico, Stamps 197, 255 

" " I. R.", Stamps 197 

official stamps, Error of 356, 402 

" Postage due stamps, 

bisected and 342 

Surfaced paper. Gray, Post Office 

department 267 



Taylor, Gen. Zachary 


133 


Ten cents : 




1847 


60 


1847, reprint 


346 


1851-57 


67 


1851-57, reprint 


348 


1851-57, types of 


69 


1851-57, bisected 


71 


1857-60, types of 


76 


1861 


84 


i86r, reprint 


349 


1867 


102 


1869 


109 



4i6 



INDEX. 



Ten cents : 

1869, reprint 

1870 

1873-75, secret mark 

1873-75, reptint 

1873-75, reprint of 1880 

1881-82 

1890 

1803 

1898 

1QOI 

Special delivery 

Newspaper, 1865 

Newspaper, 1865, reprint 

Newspaper, 1875 

Newspaper, 1875, reprint 

Newspaper, 1879 

Newspaper, 1895 

Postage due, 1879 

Postage due, 1879, special 
printing 

Postage due, 1894-95 
Ten dollars : 

State deparment 

Newspaper, 1895 

Newspaper, 1895, reprint 
Thirty cents : 

1856, imperforate 
1857-60 

1857-60, reprint 
1857-60, the black 
1861 

1861, reprint 

1867, grilled all over 

1867 

1869 

1869, inverted medallion 

1869, reprint 

1870 

1870-73, secret mark 

1870-73, reprint 

1870-73, reprint of 1880 

1888 

1890 

1893 

Postage due, 1879 

Postage due, 1879, special 
printing 

Postage due, 1894-95 
Thirty-six cents : 

Newspaper, 1875 

Newspaper, 1879 

Newspaper, reprint 
Thirty-six dollars : 

Newspaper, 1875 

Newspaper, 1879 

Newspaper, reprint 
Three cents : 

I85I-55 

1851-57. types of 

1851-57, bisected 

1857-60, types of 

1857, reprint 
1861 

1861, scarlet 
l86r, reprint 
1867 
1869 



Three cents 



351 




1869, bisected 


114 


121 




1869, reprint 


351 


132 




1870 


121 


352 




1873—75, secret mark 


132 


353 




1 873~75. reprint 


352 


147 




1873—75, reprint of 1880 


353 


163 




1881-82 


147 


173 




1887 


154 


192 




1890 


162 


200 




1893 


173 


250 




Newspaper 295 


. 305 


289 




Newspaper, reprint 


361 


360 




Postage due, 1879 


330 


295 




Postage due, 1879, special 




361 




printing 


304 


304 




Postage due, 1894-95 


337 


320 


Three dollars : 




330 




1893 


173 






Newspaper, 1875 


296 


364 




Newspaper, 1879 


304 


337 




Newspaper, reprint 


362 




Train ", 


" Troops Guarding 


192 


259 


Trans-Mississippi series 


191 


320 


Treasury department, The 257 


. 259 


303 




special printing 


356 




Triangli 


;, Varieties of 


180 


71 


"Troops Guarding Train" 


192 


76 


Trurnbt 


ill, — Portrait of Washington by 


76 


348 




" Declaration of Independence 


" 


78 




by 


no 


85 


Twelve 


cents : 




350 




1851-57 


67 


100 




I85I-57. reprint 


348 


IOI 




1851-57, bisected 


70 


no 




1861 


84 


112 




1861, reprint 


349 


35i 




1867 


102 


122 




1869 


109 


132 




1869, reprint 


349 


352 




1870 


122 


353 




1873-75, secret mark 


132 


154 




1873-75, reprint 


352 


163 




1873-75, reprint of 1880 


353 


173 




Newspaper, 1875 


295 


330 




Newspaper, 1879 


304 






Newspaper, reprint 


361 


364 


Twelve 


dollars : 




337 




Newspaper, 1875 


296 






Newspaper, 1879 


305 


295 




Newspaper, reprint 


362 


304 


Twenty 


dollars : 




361 




State department 


25Q 






Newspaper 


320 


296 




Newspaper, reprint 


30 3 


305 


Twenty' 


-four cents : 




362 




1856, imperforate 


71 






1857-60 


75 


66 




1857-60, reprint 


348 


68, 69 




1861 


84 


70, 401 




1861, reprint 


350 


76 




1869 


no 


348 




1869, inverted medallion 


112 


83 




1869, reprint 


351 


90 




1870 


122 


349 




1873-75, secret mark 


132 


IOI 




1873 75. reprint 


352 


109 




1873-75, reprint of 1880 


353 



INDEX. 



417 



Twenty-four cents : 

Newspaper, 1875 

Newspaper, 1879 

Newspaper, reprint 
Twenty-four dollars : 

Newspaper, 1875 

Newspaper, 1879 

Newspaper, reprint 
Twenty-five cents : 

Newspaper, 1865 

Newspaper, 1895 

Newspaper, reprint 
Two cents : 

1863 

1863, bisected 

1861, reprint 

1867 

1869 

1869, reprint 

1870 

1873-75, secret mark 

1873-75, reprint 

1873-75, reprint of 1880 

1883 

1883, varieties 

1883, reprint 

1887 

1890 

1890, capped numerals 

1893 

1893, imperforate 

1894-95, counterfeit 

1898 

1901 

1 901, inverted medallion 

Navy department, green 

Newspaper 295, 

Newspaper, reprint 

Newspaper, 1895 

Postage due, 1879 

Postage due, 1879, special 
printing 

Postage due, 1894-95 
Two dollars : 

1893 

1894-95 
1898 

State department 
Newspaper, 1895 
Type-set seals 



Union, Universal Postal, Countries in 

the 
United States City Despatch Post 
Universal Postal Congress, Stamps 

overprinted for 



295 
304 
361 

296 
30? 
362 

289 
320 
360 

90 
90 

349 
101 
109 

351 
121 

131 
352 
353 
151 
151 
354 
154 
162 
164 
172 

174 
189 
192 
200 
402 
266 

3o5 
360 
320 

330 

364 
337 

173 
181 

192 
259 
320 
372 



132 
228 



PAGE. 

Newspaper stamps 

overprinted for 324 
Postage due stamps 

overprinted for 340 
Special delivery stamps 

overprinted for 255 

Universal Postal Union, Countries in the 132 
Postage due stamps 

delivered to 340 
Stamps of 1898 

delivered to 198 

"U. S. I. R." watermark 182 

U. S. Mail (New York Carriers' stamp) 231 

"U. S. P. S." watermark 181 

Unissued Official stamps, Schedule of 285 
Unpaid letter stamps, — see " Postage 
due stamps" 

Vanderlyn, — " Landing of Columbus" 

by 109, 172 

Vesta 296 

Victory, Goddess of 296 

War department, The 257, 259 

special printing 357 

Washington, D. C. 52 
Washington, George (Portrait of) 

27, 32, 60, 66, 67, 75, 76, 83, 84, 

109, 121, 151, 162, 227, 229, 230, 

290. 

Washington, General 76 

Watermark U. S. I. R. 181 

U. S. P. S. 182 

Waters, Asa H. 27 

Webster, Daniel 122, 163 

Webster, Worcester 20 

Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Pony Express 

Stamps : 238 
Overland California Mail 239 
Pony Express 239 
tariff on private corres- 
pondence 240 
" Garter " stamp 240 
counterfeits 241, 243 
reprints 241 
West", " Farming in the 192 
"Western Mining Prospector'' 192 
Wharton, David B , Stamps of 222 
Wheel punch, Cog (Fletcher) 134 
Wimer, John M. 45 
Wisdom, Goddess of (Minerva) 296 
Withdrawn, Unsold stamps (1893 0I ' 

Columbian series) 177 

Wolcott, Statue of O. H. Perry 163 

Worcester, Mass 54 



1S9 Youth, Goddess of 



296 



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